V 


kT 


MAR  13  1918 

<>  >//  p  o  r  n  >  f 


BS  575  .  S667  1918 
Sperow,  Everett  H. 
The  Rose  of  Sharon 


f 


'■if' 


THE  ROSE  OF 
SHARON 

The  Story  of  the  Shulammite  Maiden 


/ 


BY 


EVERETT  H.  SPEROW,  A.M.,  B.D. 

Author  of  “The  Silent  Nazar ene” 

'  l i b r-  ch  roller.  thouc/hl". 

O 


BOSTON:  THE  GORHAM  PRESS 

TORONTO:  THE  COPP  CLARK  CO.,  LIMITED 


Copyright,  1918,  by  Everett  H.  Sperow 
All  Rights  Reserved 


Made  in  the  United  States  of  America 


The  Gorham  Press,  Boston,  U.S.A. 


CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Man  of  War . 7 

The  Prince  Exalts  Himself  .  .  13 

The  Battle . 

The  Palace . 21 

King  David . 21 

The  Home  of  Abishag  the  Shulammite  25 
The  Shulammite  Announced  ...  29 

Hebron . 33 

Solomon  and  Adonijah  .  .  .  *33 

Solomon’s  Dream  37 

Bethlehem . 41 

Joab  and  Adonijah . 41 

Prince  Solomon  in  "Jerusalem  .  .  48 

The  Council . 52 

The  Palace . 60 

The  Over-mastering  Passion  .  .  •  7 2 

The  Coming  of  Joab  .  .  •  .80 

Solomon  in  His  Harem  •  .  .  -85 

The  Council  at  the  House  of  Joab  .  89 

Solomon  Visits  Bathsheba  ...  94 

Feast  of  En-rogel  .....  98 

Nathan  and  Bathsheba  .  .  .  .101 

3 


4 


CONTENTS 


PAGE 

Bathsheba  Before  David  .  .  .  103 

The  Scene  at  En-rogel  .  .  .  .118 

The  Death  Summons  .  .  .  .123 

Adonijah  in  His  Harem  ....  133 

At  the  House  of  Bathsheba  .  .  .  136 

Bathsheba  and  Solomon  .  .  .  .142 

Abiathar  the  Priest  ....  147 
Plight  of  Joab  .  .  .  •  •  .148 

League  with  Hiram,  King  of  Tyre  .  153 
The  Court  of  Solomon  .  .  .  .161 

The  Council  of  the  Court  .  .  .  .164 

The  Levy  .  .  .  •  •  •  .169 

The  Palace  of  Cedar  ....  17° 
The  Wealth  of  Solomon  ....  172 

The  Queen  of  Sheba  ....  175 

Among  the  Hills  of  Shunem  .  .  .185 

The  House  Back  of  Shunem  .  .  .188 

In  the  Garden  of  Nuts  .  .  .  .191 

Solomon’s  Palace . 204 

Scene  in  the  Royal  Harem  .  .  .  204 

The  Banquet  of  Solomon  .  .  .  .213 

The  Shulammite’s  Plea  to  the  Court 

Ladies . 222 

Solomon  and  the  Shulammite  .  .  230 

The  Shulammite  in  Dreamland  .  .  236 

A  Dextrous  Foil  .....  246 

The  King’s  Counsel . 250 

*  > 

The  Shulammite’s  Return  .  .  -255 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


THE  MAN  OF  WAR 

MIDST  the  shadows  and  gloom  of  the 
shades  of  the  vale  of  Rephaim  in 
whose  solitudes  the  fierce  bloody  giants,  the 
Anakim  of  the  days  of  Joshua  and  Caleb 
stored  away  and  grimly  guarded  their  plun¬ 
der,  the  Philistines  spread  themselves  when 
they  heard  that  David  had  been  anointed  king 
over  Israel.  (For  fear  of  David  had  come 
upon  all  the  Philistines.)  And  it  came  to 
pass  that  when  David  heard  that  the  lords 
of  the  Philistines  had  come  up  out  of  their 
cities  and  that  their  armies  had  spread  them¬ 
selves  midst  the  shades  of  Rephaim  he  in¬ 
quired  of  the  Lord,  saying,  “Shall  I  go  up 
against  the  Philistines?  Wilt  thou  deliver 
them  into  my  hand?”  Jehovah  said  unto  him, 
“Go  up;  I  will  certainly  deliver  the  Philis¬ 
tines  into  thy  hand.” 

So  David  smote  the  Philistines,  and  he  said, 

7 


8 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Jehovah  hath  broken  mine  enemies  before 
me,  like  the  breach  of  waters.” 

But  this  defeat  gnawed  at  the  hearts  of  the 
lords  of  the  Philistines  insomuch  that  like 
lions  reduced  to  extremity  because  the  prey 
had  been  wrested  from  them  they  roared 
against  him  who  had  so  deprived  them.  They, 
therefore,  spread  themselves  a  second  time  be¬ 
neath  the  scowling  gloom  of  Rephaim.  David 
inquired  this  time  also  of  the  Lord  whether 
he  should  go  up  and  smite  the  enemy.  Jeho¬ 
vah  said,  “Thou  shalt  not  go  up!  make  a  cir¬ 
cuit  behind  them,  and  come  upon  them  over 
against  the  mulberry-trees.  And  it  shall  be, 
when  thou  hearest  the  sound  of  the  marching 
in  the  tops  of  the  mulberry-trees,  that  thou 
shalt  bestir  thyself;  for  then  is  Jehovah  gone 
out  before  thee  to  smite  the  host  of  the  Philis¬ 
tines.”  And  it  was  so  when  David  made  a  cir¬ 
cuit  behind  the  host  of  the  Uncircumcised  that 
he  heard  the  marching  of  the  host  of  Jehovah 
in  the  tops  of  the  mulberry-trees  going  out  be¬ 
fore  him  to  battle,  and  he  smote  the  Philistines 
from  Geba  until  thou  come  to  Gezer.  The 
Philistines  had  spread  themselves  in  the  vale 
of  the  shades  to  their  confusion,  and  the  hand 
of  David  was  everywhere  successful  over 
them. 


THE  MAN  OF  WAR 


9 


There  was  in  those  days  a  giant  who  had 
come  out  of  the  North — even  out  of  the  far 
away  Caphtor  that  lay  dimly  on  the  horizon 
of  men’s  thoughts.  He  was  a  man  of  great 
stature  and  he  dwelt  in  Gath.  Goliath  that 
David  slew  with  his  stone  and  sling  was  born 
unto  this  giant  in  Caphtor.  And  there  were 
four  sons  born  unto  the  giant  in  Gath.  Each 
of  these  in  turn  championed  the  cause  of  the 
Gittites.  This  made  the  men  of  Gath  very 
confident  if  not  to  say  bold  even  though  Goli¬ 
ath  had  been  slain  by  David  with  a  sling. 

So  they  made  war  on  Israel;  and  David 
went  down  and  his  servants  with  him,  and 
fought  against  the  Philistines;  and  David  was 
faint.  And  Ishbe-benob,  one  of  the  sons  of 
the  giant,  the  weight  of  whose  spear  was  three 
hundred  sheckles  of  brass,  being  girded  with 
a  new  sword,  had  come  nigh  slaying  David. 
But  Abishai  the  son  of  Zeruiah  succored  him 
and  slew  the  presumptuous  Philistine.  This  so 
startled  the  men  of  David  with  fright  that  they 
sware  unto  him,  saying,  “Thou  shalt  go  no 
more  out  with  us  to  battle,  that  thou  quench 

not  the  lamp  of  Israel.” 

But  this  thing  vexed  the  Philistines  sore 
that  Ishbe-benob  had  been  slain  at  the  hand  of 
David’s  servant,  and  they  made  war  at  Gezer. 


10 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Here  Saph  one  of  the  sons  of  the  giant  who 
had  sought  to  avenge  his  brother’s  blood  was 
slain  by  a  servant  of  David.  This  caused  the 
blood  of  the  family  of  giants  to  wax  hot 
against  David  and  against  his  servants  so  that 
they  would  not  stay  the  hand  as  long  as  they 
had  a  hand  to  raise  against  Israel. 

So  they  made  war  a  second  time  at  Gezer, 
and  this  time  a  brother  most  like  Goliath  came 
forth  and  championed  the  cause  of  all  the 
Philistines.  This  was  a  man  of  great  stature 
even  as  tall  as  his  brother  whom  David  slew. 
The  staff  of  his  spear  was  like  a  weaver’s 
beam,  and  his  spear’s  head  weighed  fourteen 
pounds — in  fact  it  was  the  very  spear  that 
Goliath  had  himself  designed  for  use  in  spe¬ 
cial  combats  that  would  decide  the  champion¬ 
ship  over  notorious  foes.  There  was  a  helmet 
of  brass  upon  his  head,  and  he  was  clad  in  a 
coat  of  mail  whose  weight  was  one  hundred 
and  fifty  pounds.  He  also  had  greaves  of 
brass  upon  his  legs.  This  man  ten  foot  three 
inches  in  height  scowled  from  beneath  his  hel¬ 
met  of  brass  as  he  flashed  the  fire  of  the  fury 
of  hate  from  his  eyes  at  Elhanan  the  servant 
of  David  as  they  approached  each  other  for 
mortal  combat.  The  success  had  all  been  with 
David  and  with  his  servants  heretofore.  But 


THE  MAN  OF  WAR 


II 


now  all  Israel  feared  greatly  as  they  looked 
upon  Elhanan  with  sword  in  hand  draw  nigh 
even  within  range  of  the  huge  spear  of  the 
terrible  giant  of  Gath.  There  seemed  to  be 
no  escape  for  Elhanan  who  deliberately 
walked  into  the  range  of  this  horrible  instru¬ 
ment  of  death.  As  -to  how  no  man  can  say, 
Elhanan  thrust  through  the  giant  before  he 
could  lift  the  huge  spear  to  do  the  servant  of 
David  hurt.  This  threw  all  the  Philistines 
into  confusion,  and  there  was  great  slaughter 
that  day  even  unto  the  gates  of  Gezer.  When 
Israel  left  off  pursuing  they  plundered  the 

camp  of  the  Philistines. 

There  remained  yet  one  of  the  house  of  the 
giant  of  Gath.  His  rage  was  fierce  even  at 
times  approaching  despair.  This  man  also 
was  of  great  stature,  and  he  had  six  fingers  on 
each  hand,  and  six  toes  on  each  foot,  four  and 
twenty  in  all.  Leaning  on  his  huge  spear  he 
sware  that  he  would  stop  short  of  nothing  save 
drinking  the  blood  of  David  and  bringing 
about  the  utter  destruction  of  Israel.  He  called 
to  the  men  of  Gath  and  to  the  lords  of  the 
Philistines,  the  very  hills  trembling  at  the 

roaring  of  his  terrible  voice . 

“Let  every  man  gird  on  his  swoid.  Let 
there  be  a  full  end  of  David,  and  let  not  a  man 


12 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


in  Israel  escape  to  tell  thus  and  so  did  the 
Philistines  unto  us.  Let  the  Hebrews  be  cut 
off  Toot  and  branch’.” 

This  time  the  war  broke  out  at  Gath.  The 
giant  roared  to  the  lords  of  the  Philistines  to 
follow  him  with  their  hosts  as  he  went  forth 
to  battle  with  Israel.  But  as  he  fumed  and 
spewed  and  waxed  hot  Jonathan  the  son  of 
Shammah  took  aim  with  his  bow  and  sent  the 
arrow  into  the  forehead  of  the  haughty  giant 
who  fell  to  the  ground.  The  Philistines  seeing 
their  champion  fallen  turned  about  and  fled 
in  mad  despair  every  man’s  sword  being  lifted 
up  against  his  brother.  Israel  did  not  leave 
off  the  pursuit  this  time  till  they  had  taken 
Gath.  Even  as  it  was  told  that  day  through¬ 
out  Israel — “David  took  the  bridle  of  the 
mother  city  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Philistines.” 


THE  PRINCE  EXALTS  HIMSELF 


NOW  King  David  was  old  and  stricken  in 
years;  and  they  covered  him  with 
clothes,  but  he  gat  no  heat.”  The  withering 
body  and  the  fragile  frame  ready  to  fall  shud¬ 
dered  with  chill  after  chill.  His  eyes  were  set 
with  a  vacant  stare.  So  it  was  day  after  day 
as  life  held  to  the  thread  of  existence  “before 
the  silver  chord  is  loosed.”  The  thing  was 
known  throughout  the  borders  of  Israel  that 
the  king’s  health  was  ebbing  away.  So  great 
was  the  alarm  throughout  all  the  land  that  the 
rumor  came  to  the  ears  of  the  lord  of  the 
Mother  City  of  the  Philistines.  Thereupon 
the  king  of  Gath  secretly  sent  to  the  lords  of 
the  cities  of  the  Philistines— even  to  the  lords 
of  Gaza,  Askelon,  Asdod,  and  Ekron,  saying, 
“David  is  nigh  unto  death.  Let  the  Philis¬ 
tines  gather  themselves  together  out  of  all 
their  cities  that  we  may  cast  off  the  yoke  of 
David  even  before  Adonijah  ascends  the 
throne  of  his  father.” 

The  thing  was  known  from  Dan  to  Beer- 

13 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


14 

sheba  that  Adonijah  would  rule  after  David. 
The  prince  was  a  “goodly  man”  and  “he  was 
born  after  Absalom.”  It  could  be  said  of  him 
even  as  it  was  said  of  the  faultless  beauty  of 
his  brother  “from  the  sole  of  his  foot  even  to 
the  crown  of  his  head  there  was  no  blemish 
in  him.”  He  prepared  him  chariots  and  horse¬ 
men  and  fifty  men  to  run  before  him.  This  he 
did  continually  and  the  king  did  not  cross  him 
at  any  time,  saying,  “Why  hast  thou  done  so?” 

And  it  was  so,  as  the  frame  of  the  king 
wasted  away  and  withered  and  his  life  ebbed 
out,  that  the  eyes  of  all  Israel  were  turned 
toward  Adonijah.  Also  his  name  was  much 
on  the  lips  of  the  Philistines.  They  saw  that 
he  was  a  goodly  man  which  brought  to  their 
minds  Saul  the  son  of  Kish,  for  they  knew  but 
little  of  Absalom  save  that  he  raised  himself 
up  against  David  his  father.  But  Saul  they 
knew,  and  brought  to  mind  how  that  all  Israel 
did  serve  the  Philistine  in  the  days  of  the 
Judges  and  would  have  continued  to  pay 
them  tribute  throughout  the  reign  of  Saul 
were  it  not  for  David.  They  saw  in  Adonijah 
a  man  like  unto  Saul  and  they  therefore 
thought  to  cast  off  the  yoke  of  David  and  even 
to  subjugate  the  Hebrews  and  cause  them  to 
serve  as  in  the  days  of  the  Judges.  So  as 


THE  PRINCE  EXALTS  HIMSELF  15 


David  waxed  faint  it  was  told  in  Gath,  and 
published  in  the  streets  of  Askelon  that  the 
king  was  no  more,  and  that  David  was  gath¬ 
ered  to  his  fathers.  The  rumor  was  winged 
and  even  before  it  could  be  substantiated  the 
Philistines  spread  themselves  in  the  vale  of 
Elah  as  in  the  days  of  Saul. 

Fear  came  upon  all  Jerusalem  because  of 
the  Philistines,  and  Joab  sent  messengers  to  all 
the  garrisons  on  the  border  of  Edom  and  on 
the  Southland  toward  the  wilderness  to  gather 
together  in  the  way  of  the  vale  of  Elah  and 
set  the  battle  in  array  against  the  Philistines. 

Adonijah’s  time  had  come  to  prove  his  hand 
against  the  arrogant  foe  of  renown  who  had 
been  reduced  to  vassalage  by  David.  He 
would  show  his  hand  as  strong  as  that  of  his 
father  and  establish  himself  on  the  throne  for¬ 
ever.  The  king’s  health  had  so  distressed  the 
people  that  the  uprising  of  the  ancient  enemy 
greatly  annoyed  them  even  causing  great  fear 
in  Jerusalem. 

But  Adonijah  ere  he  set  out  for  battle  pre¬ 
pared  him  chariots  and  horsemen,  and  fifty 
men  to  run  before  him,  saying,  “I  will  be 
king.” 

As  Ben-hur  of  Ephraim  stood  at  the  side  of 
the  white  haired  Priest  Abiather  observing 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


1 6 

Adonijah  making  display  in  the  streets  of  the 
city,  he  was  very  grave,  saying: 

“Why  doth  Adonijah  this  thing?” 

“Hath  David  at  any  time  rebuked  him  for 
so  doing?”  replied  the  old  priest  gazing  into 
the  face  of  Ben-hur. 

“But  is  not  the  king  nigh  unto  death?  Is  not 
our  deadly  enemy  in  the  vale  of  Elah?  Is  not 
the  pall  of  sadness  thrown  over  Ephraim  and 
Judah?  Is  it  the  time  to  make  merry?” 

The  noble  Ben-hur  spake  with  great  earn¬ 
estness  and  though  a  sadness  colored  his  voice 
yet  his  rejoinder  was  firm  and  declarative. 

“But,  Ben-hur,  Adonijah  would  let  all 
Israel  know  that  he  is  a  goodly  man,”  replied 
the  venerable  priest,  “and  as  he  will  be  king 
there  need  be  no  fear  because  of  the  uncir¬ 
cumcised  Philistine.” 

Thereupon  did  Joab  scowl  and  address 
Ben-hur,  for  the  rugged  captain  fully  accout¬ 
ered  in  armour  for  the  fray  was  standing  but 
a  little  distance  from  Abiathar. 

“Bring  Solomon  out  of  the  harem.  Let  the 
people  see  how  goodly  he  is.”  A  look  of 
scorn  settled  in  the  countenance  of  the  brusque 
Captain  as  he  disdainfully  charged  Ben-hur, 
saying,  “Solomon  shall  surely  go  with  us  to 
battle  this  day.” 


THE  PRINCE  EXALTS  HIMSELF  17 


“Great  Captain  of  the  host  of  Isreal,”  re¬ 
plied  Ben-hur,  “our  lord  the  king  has  need  of 
Solomon  at  this  critical  moment.” 

“So  hath  Bathsheba.  Let  David  know  that 
Joab  has  said — Solomon  shall  go  to  the  battle 
this  day.” 

Thus  Joab  spoke  with  authority  and  deci¬ 
sion  which  was  final.  Ben-hur  turned  and 
went  his  way  and  the  scene  changed  to  the 
battle-front. 


THE  BATTLE 


THE  sun  is  on  the  western  slope  of  Judea’s 
lofty  hills.  The  day  is  far  spent.  The 
crashing  of  shields  and  helmets  as  they  fall  in 
huge  heaps,  the  clashing  of  swords  as  they  fly 
in  shivering  splinters  in  the  light  of  the  face 
of  the  great  red  sun  which  is  about  to  dip  back 
of  the  shelving  hills  into  the  sea,  the  clatter¬ 
ing  of  hoofs  upon  the  uneven  ground  punc¬ 
tured  with  sharp  stones,  the  rush  and  tramp 
of  troopers,  the  shout  of  the  victorious  in  bat¬ 
tle  along  with  the  weird  wail  of  the  van¬ 
quished  pressed  exceeding  hard  the  groans 
and  the  shrieks  of  the  mangled  and  dying — all 
make  the  air  a  chaos  of  confused  noises.  The 
armies  of  Joab  are  hotly  pursuing  the  discom¬ 
fited  Philistine.  The  battle  is  on,  hand  to  hand 
and  sword  is  measured  with  sword. 

The  sons  of  Israel  had  planted  their  feet  in 
the  hills  which  the  Lord  their  God  had  given 
unto  their  fathers.  Jehovah  touched  these 
ancient  hills  and  they  smoked  with  the  holi- 
of  his  Presence.  It  was  after  that  Lot 

18 


ness 


THE  BATTLE 


i9 


had  separated  from  Abram  that  Jehovah  said 
unto  him, — “Lift  up  now  thine  eyes,  and  look 
from  the  place  where  thou  art,  northward  and 
southward  and  eastward  and  westward:  for 
all  the  land  which  thou  seest,  to  thee  will  I 
give  it,  and  to  thy  seed  forever.”  And  in  the 
midst  of  his  Holy  Hill  had  Jehovah  estab¬ 
lished  the  throne  of  his  servant  David. 

Therefore  the  armies  of  the  living  God  can¬ 
not  be  dislodged  by  the  uncircumcised  Philis¬ 
tine.  On  the  other  hand  the  aliens  have  broken 
before  the  face  of  Israel  and  are  fleeing  in 
mad  confusion,  crying  out  in  despair  to  each 
other,  “The  gods  of  the  hills  be  too  mighty 
for  us.” 

The  dying  and  mangled  slain  are  every¬ 
where.  The  path  of  invasion  is  crimson  with 
blood  as  the  valiant  pursuers  trample  the 
wounded,  dying  and  dead.  Gory  is  the  path 
of  slaughter  as  the  sword  devours,  and  bodies 
are  in  great  heaping  swaths  as  heavy  grass  be¬ 
fore  the  sickle.  As  the  hills  slope  into  Philis- 
tia’s  plain  Joab  blows  the  trumpet  and  the 
people  return  from  pursuing  after  the  Philis¬ 
tines. 

The  gruff  old  captain  was  intoxicated  with 
the  victory  as  with  new  wine,  for  it  was  many 
years  since  he  met  this  ancient  foe  at  Gath. 


20 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


He,  therefore,  shouted  to  the  men  of  David 
as  they  came  streaming  back,  saying: 

“On  to  the  spoils — on  to  the  spoils — every 
man  on  to  the  spoils.  It  is  well  that  we  cele¬ 
brate  a  victory  so  glorious  on  the  eve  of  the 
king’s  birthday.” 

This  thing  was  done  by  Joab  in  gross  viola¬ 
tion  of  the  king’s  command,  for  David 
charged  him,  saying,  “Let  no  man  take  of  the 
spoil.  But  let  it  be  brought  to  Jerusalem  that 
the  people  might  make  merry  before  me  ere  I 
go  hence.” 


THE  PALACE 


King  David 

SEATED  in  his  palace  of  cedar  with  his 
servants  about  him  ready  to  minister  to 
his  every  physical  need,  King  David  with 
countenance  worn  and  faded  shows  unusual 
concern.  He  mutters  under  his  breath.  His 
servants  strain  to  catch  the  indistinct  utter¬ 
ance  without  betraying  an  overwrought  anxi¬ 
ety. 

“Let  the  king  speak  for  his  words  are  as 
wine  to  his  servants.” 

Thereupon  the  butler  leans  over  to  catch 
the  feeble  words  reduced  to  mere  breath — 
“Joab,  cruel  Joab— this  son  of  Zeruiah  is  too 
hard  for  me.” 

A  nervous  anxiety  seized  the  butler  who 
wished  to  say  the  right  thing  to  quiet  the  king. 
“O  king,  live  forever!  Too  much  concern  in 
sending  out  the  army.  An  overdraft  upon  thy 
strength.” 

But  the  head  of  the  king  sank  lower.  All  the 


22 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


while  his  eyes  were  closed  in  deep  contempla¬ 
tion.  His  whisper  now  was  mere  breath: 

“Should  Abner  die  as  a  fool  dieth? 

Thy  hands  were  not  bound,  nor  thy  feet  put 
into  fetters : 

As  a  man  falleth  before  the  children  of  in¬ 
iquity,  so  didst  thou  fall.” 

The  butler  who  had  traced  the  meaning  out 
of  the  faint  whisperings  of  the  soul  of  David 
could  no  longer  misunderstand  the  signifi¬ 
cance  of  it  all.  The  king  was  passing  from 
them.  This  they  all  knew  but  they  were  set 
stubbornly  against  the  admittance  of  anything 
of  the  kind.  The  butler  therefore  announced 
the  victory  of  David’s  army,  saying,  “Be  of 
good  cheer,  O  king,  Jehovah  thy  God  has  giv¬ 
en  thy  people  victory  over  the  uncircumcised.” 

At  this  saying  the  king  opened  his  eye  with 
a  vacant  stare — a  stare  that  soon  faded  out  to 
give  place  to  a  modest  smile.  Under  and  be¬ 
neath  that  withering  frame  a  warm  heart  was 
pulsating,  and  the  king’s  voice  was  mellow 
with  affection,  saying:  “The  saving  salt  of  the 
kingdom  of  David!  Blessed  be  the  name  of 
the  Lord.” 

A  terrible  shuddering  seizes  the  breaking 


THE  PALACE 


23 


frame  of  the  revered  king  even  before  he  has 
finished  the  words  of  praise  and  adoration. 
All  hands  are  to  the  rescue.  They  cover  him 
well  that  he  may  get  himself  heat.  The 
chill  is  on  and  defies  every  effort.  It  threat¬ 
ens  to  shatter  the  frail  frame  like  a  fragile 
potter’s  vessel.  Every  possible  thing  is  done 
and  yet  the  king  shakes  like  a  solitary  leaf 
mid  the  rage  of  the  bleak  storm  when  nature 
brings  in  every  force  to  bare  the  tree  of  its 
passing  foliage.  The  servants  of  David  stand 
aghast  in  face  of  the  inevitable.  All  eyes  are 
fixed  upon  the  butler  as  best  qualified  by  vir¬ 
tue  of  his  position  to  speak  for  the  king.  As 
all  eyes  are  turned  to  this  officer  he  speaks 
after  considerable  hesitation  in  a  firm  and  de¬ 
cided  voice  after  this  manner : 

“Let  there  be  sought  for  my  lord  the  king 
a  young  virgin :  and  let  her  stand  before  the 
king,  and  cherish  him;  and  let  her  lie  in  thy 
bosom,  that  my  lord  the  king  may  get  heat.” 

The  king  opens  his  eyes  at  this  saying  and 
his  servants  see  the  sparkle  of  youth  return 
to  them.  Then  they  know  that  the  thing  is 
good  in  the  eyes  of  the  king  and  that  the  butler 
has  discerned  the  needs  of  the  king  aright. 

Therefore  men  who  are  skilled  in  knowl¬ 
edge  of  the  king’s  delights— men  of  sound 


24 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


judgment  are  sent  through  the  borders  of 
Israel  to  seek  out  a  virgin  whose  warmth  and 
vigor  of  body  shall  supply  the  deficiency 
of  the  wasting  frame  of  David.  With  un¬ 
abating  energies  they  press  the  search  and 
spare  no  effort  to  find  the  one  who  will  put 
into  the  withered  cheek  of  the  old  king  the 
ruddy  glow  of  the  shepherd  youth  of  the  hills 
of  Bethlehem. 

The  great  sun  hastens  to  hide  back  of  the 
hills  by  the  sea  as  David’s  most  noble  servant 
Ben  Isaac  passing  back  of  Shunem  enters  a 
choice  garden  of  pomegranates  and  gets  a 
glimpse  of  an  attractive  figure  of  a  maiden 
exceeding  fair  to  look  upon  with  her  water- 
jar  in  the  midst  of  delicate  roses  modestly 
blushing  bathed  in  the  golden  rays  of  the  set¬ 
ting  sun. 

“Let  my  lord  king  David  live  forever! 
Behold  the  virgin!  Now  my  lord  will  get 
heat!” 


THE  HOME  OF  ABISHAG  THE 
SHULAMMITE 


D 


ID  ever  rose  bloom  fairer  than  this, 
mother?  but — ah!  this  lily 
Startled  she  threw  her  eyes  back  of  her  as 
a  masculine  voice  answered  her  expression  of 
admiration  for  the  deep  crimson  rose  she  was 
sprinkling  with  water  from  her  pitcher. 

“Fairer  than  the  rose  of  Sharon,  O  daughter 
of  Shulam,  give  me  to  drink, ^  I  pray  thee,  a 

little  water  from  thy  pitcher. 

The  Shulammite  lifting  her  pitcher  to  give 
drink  to  the  servant  of  King  David  fixed  hei 
eyes  upon  that  officer  accoutered  with  helmet, 
breastplate  and  shield.  A  thousand  thoughts 
flashed  through  her  mind  as  he  drank  from 
that  pitcher  into  which  a  few  crimson  petals 

of  the  rose  had  fallen. 

Having  drunk  he  made  as  though  pro¬ 
nouncing  a  blessing  upon  the  fair  one  of  the 
garden  of  Shulam,  saying,  “Even  fairer  than 
Rebeka  in  the  house  of  our  father  Isaac  shalt 
thou  be,  O  daughter  of  Shulam,  in  the  house 

25 


2  6 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


of  David.” 

The  great  Sun  had  hidden  himself  back  of 
the  huge  heap  of  clouds  that  massed  them¬ 
selves  on  yon  western  hills  as  though  he 
would  hide  his  face  in  shame  from  this  scene. 
Scarcely  had  the  servant  of  David  made  an 
end  of  speaking  than  the  great  Ruler  of  the 
day  sent  a  piercing  shaft  through  the  dense 
mass  of  clouds  along  the  circling  hill-crests 
to  the  damsel  whose  eyes  were  glistening  in 
tears.  The  servant  of  David  thereupon  drew 
out  of  the  bosom  of  his  silken  gown  a  ruby 
most  precious  whose  lustre  was  exceeding  rich 
in  the  concentrated  rays  of  the  eye  of  that  set¬ 
ting  sun.  As  he  placed  it  in  the  upturned  palm 
of  the  hand  of  the  damsel  the  anguish  of  whose 
soul  was  invoking  help  from  the  Most  High 
she  grew  rigid  in  the  awful  spell  that  defied 
control.  Wrapt  in  the  stern  grip  of  helpless¬ 
ness  she,  speechless,  stared  vacantly  into  the 
face  of  the  Captain  from  the  King’s  palace. 
Face  to  face  in  the  spell  of  silence  the  great 
Sun  suddenly  shut  his  eye  as  though  He’d 
impress  the  imagery  of  that  scene  on  the  mind 
of  the  Universe  that  mortals  might  never  for¬ 
get  its  significance,  and  then  like  a  flash  as 
though  shy  He  sent  a  dancing  gleam  across 
the  circling  hill-crests  and  stole  a  kiss  from 


THE  HOME  OF  ABISHAG 


27 


the  immaculate  brow  of  the  virgin  unmocked 
as  God’s  grand  hills  about  her  as  He  passed 
back  of  Mt.  Carmel  by  the  sea.  Fhe  darkness 
gathered.  Mother  smoothed  back  the  cluster¬ 
ing  ringlets  of  heavy  tresses  of  black  hair 
which  fell  over  her  pillow  in  great  flowing 
waves.  The  wild  glare  was  leaving  the  eye, 
the  candle  on  the  rough-hewn  stand  was  burn¬ 
ing  dimly*,  mother,  anxious,  was  looking  ten¬ 
derly  into  the  pale  countenance  that  always 
wore  a  deep  blush  of  crimson ;  the  lips  quiv¬ 
ered  and  mother  leaned  closer  to  catch  hei 
feeble  mutter: — “Am  I  for  the  harem? 

Mother  placed  her  hand  gently  on  her 
daughter’s  cheek  flushed  with  burning,  whis¬ 
pering  softly:  “My  sweet  child,  God  knows 

best.” 

The  lips  are  unsealed  again— but  the  floods 
of  her  soul  like  waves  from  out  the  boundless 
deep  too  full  for  sound  and  foam  return  again 
to  the  recesses  of  the  vast  caverns  of  her  pro¬ 
found  nature.  Mother  holds  her  listening  eai 
close  to  the  lips  that  have  been  touched  by  the 
live  coal  from  off  the  altar  of  God  that  the 
sacred  message  of  her  soul  might  pass  them 
as  they  whisper  low:  “Can  God  suffer  them  to 
take  me  from  His  hills,  from  thy  bosom,  and 
from - Sinking  in  her  pillow,  the  master 


28 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


passion  ruling,  she  lay  as  dead  with  marble 
cheek  and  lips  strangely  colorless.  All  efforts 
to  revive  her  are  baffled  as  watch  after  watch 
of  the  night  passes  into  the  past  of  eternity. 


THE  SHULAMMITE  ANNOUNCED 


THE  heart  panted  while  maddening  fear 
seized  the  city;  the  night  blackened  with 
swarms  of  foreboding  of  evils;  King  Davids 
shattered  frame  was  trembling,  breaking,  fall¬ 
ing — alas!  who  knew  when  the  moment  would 
come  that  the  broken  pieces  could  no  longer 
be  held  together. 

The  charge  to  the  troubled  city  from  the 
valiant  Benaiah,  the  faithful  captain  of  the 
guard  of  David,  firmly  impressed  that  they 
who  would  feast  even  in  honor  of  the  king 
must  not  rid  themselves  of  the  apprehension 
of  fear  by  persuading  themselves  that  the  evil 
is  put  away,  but  on  the  other  hand  must  be 
prepared  for  the  worst  at  any  moment: 

“Prepare  the  table,  watch  in  the  watch- 
tower — eat,  drink;  arise  and  anoint  the  shield, 
ye  princes.” 

As  there  was  no  discharge  in  that  war  the 
city  subjected  itself  to  the  waiting  strain  eag¬ 
erly  watching  for  a  gleam  of  hope  to  break 
somewhere  through  the  increasing  gloom  not- 

29 


30 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


withstanding  avenues  of  light  were  fast  clos¬ 
ing.  Eager  faces  turned  to  the  watchman  on 
the  wall  inquiring: 

“Watchman,  what  of  the  night?  Watch¬ 
man,  what  of  the  night?” 

Only  to  have  the  empty  reply  of  the  watch¬ 
man  meet  the  listening  ear  of  the  anxious  in¬ 
quirer: 

“The  morning  cometh,  and  also  the  night: 
if  ye  will  inquire  just  keep  on  inquiring.” 

So  black  Night  fled  inclosing  within  the 
folds  of  her  sable  robes  the  heartaches,  anxi¬ 
eties  and  fears  of  a  city,  only  to  give  place  to 
the  Ruler  of  the  day  to  laugh  to  scorn  the 
grief-stricken  in  their  helplessness.  Notwith¬ 
standing  the  inevitable  in  every  seam  of  the 
garment  of  human  effort  that  city  with  a  stead¬ 
fast  gaze  watched  for  the  coming  of  one  who 
would  revive  the  wasting  frame  of  the  king 
whom  the  Lord  anointed  over  Israel.  Benaiah 
sat  between  the  two  gates,  and  the  watchman 
went  up  to  the  roof  over  the  gate  unto  the  wall, 
and  lifed  up  his  eyes  as  the  dawning  sky 
pressed  its  cheek  with  rosy  blush  to  the  sombre 
hills  greening  midst  dew-drops  of  the  spent 
night. 

The  watchman  cried  and  said  unto  Ben¬ 
aiah: — “Behold  a  man  running  alone — he 


SHULAMMITE  ANNOUNCED  31 


cometh  out  of  the  North.” 

“Then  there  be  tidings  in  his  mouth,  if  he 
run  alone.” 

The  watchman  said:  “It  is  like  the  running 
of  Joash  the  son  of  Cushi.” 

And  Benaiah  said :  “A  worthy  son  of  Cushi 
and  beareth  true  tidings.” 

Even  while  the  captain  and  watchman  were 
yet  speaking  Joash  cried  and  said,  “All  is 
well.”  And  coming  in  he  fell  upon  his  face 
before  Benaiah,  saying,  “Blessed  be  the  God 
of  our  lord  king  David,  for  the  virgin  is  found 
who  will  restore  the  king  to  the  glow  of  health, 
and  multiply  his  days  in  the  midst  of  his  ser¬ 
vants.” 

Benaiah  was  speechless  for  joy  at  the  good 
report  of  Joash,  knowing  full  well  that  it  was 
backed  by  fact  that  would  remain  genuine  un¬ 
der  the  severest  scrutiny.  Tidings  too  good 
to  be  true.  Though  there  is  something  in 
human  nature  that  is  a  trifle  suspicious  of 
things  so  good  that  with  hesitancy  the  hand  is 
put  forth  to  accept  the  proffered  fruit  yet 
Benaiah  boldly  inquired,  saying: 

“Who  is  this  virgin  that  will  restore  health 
unto  my  lord?” 

Joash  answered,  saying,  “My  lord,  Captain 
Ben  Isaac  sent  me,  saying,  ‘Tell  my  lord  the 


32 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


king  that  a  virgin  is  found  who  is  fairer  than 
the  rose  of  Sharon — the  virgin  of  the  garden 
of  Shulam.” 

“The  lily  of  the  valley  to  make  glad  the 
meadows  of  my  lord  the  king,”  shouted  Ben- 
aiah  exultantly.  “Let  the  counsel  of  elders 
be  called  that  they  may  pass  on  the  charm  of 
the  beauty  of  this  daughter  of  the  gardens  of 
Shulam.” 


HEBRON 


Solomon  and  Adoni]ah 

WHILE  all  this  is  transpiring  in  the 
north  things  are  masking  themselves 
after  a  different  manner  in  the  south  country. 
As  over  against  a  brilliancy  of  the  sun  that  is 
welcome  in  every  way  the  dark,  thick,  fierce, 
portentous  clouds  gather  and  accumulate,  so 
the  events  coming  out  of  the  north  shaping 
themselves  in  every  way  desired  must  prove 
themselves  equal  to  the  subtle  masking  of  the 
things  from  out  the  south  country. 

“This  Hebron,  Solomon,  fixed  in  the  spur 
of  this  mountain  as  an  eagle’s  nest  in  the  thick 
gloom  of  the  recess  of  the  huge  gray  rock  of 
the  jutting  cliff,  was  harried  by  the  hand  of 
the  mighty  Caleb,  yea,  by  the  hand  of  Jeho¬ 
vah  our  God  the  valiant  Caleb  hurled  the  in¬ 
habitants  even  the  mighty  giants  of  this  im¬ 
pregnable  stronghold  as  a  savage  bird  would 
dash  helpless  fledglings  from  the  black  heights 
of  yon  immense  rock.  Solomon,  how  rich  is 

33 


34 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


our  folk-lore  in  recounting  the  deeds  of  the 
noble  Caleb  who  when  fourscore  and  five 
years  old  made  request  of  Joshua,  saying: 

u  ‘Forty  years  old  was  I  when  Moses  the 
servant  of  Jehovah  sent  me  from  Ivadesh-bar- 
nea  to  spy  out  the  land;  and  I  brought  him 
word  again  as  it  was  in  my  heart.  Neverthe¬ 
less  my  brethren  that  went  up  with  me  made 
the  heart  of  the  people  melt;  but  I  wholly  fol¬ 
lowed  Jehovah  my  God.  And  Moses  sware 
on  that  day,  saying,  surely  the  land  whereon 
thy  foot  hath  trodden  shall  be  an  inheritance 
to  thee  and  to  thy  children  forever,  because 
thou  hast  wholly  followed  Jehovah  thy  God. 
And  now,  behold,  Jehovah  hath  kept  me  alive, 
as  he  spake,  these  forty  and  five  years,  from 
the  time  Jehovah  spake  this  word  unto  Moses, 
while  Israel  walked  in  the  wilderness;  and 
now,  lo,  I  am  this  day  fourscore  and  five  years 
old.  As  yet  I  am  strong  this  day  as  I  was 
in  the  day  that  Moses  sent  me;  as  my  strength 
was  then  even  so  is  my  strength  now,  for  war, 
and  to  go  out  and  to  come  in.  Now  there¬ 
fore  give  me  this  mountain,  whereof  Jehovah 
spake  in  that  day;  for  thou  heardest  in  that 
day  how  the  Anakim  were  there,  and  cities 
great  and  fortified:  if  so  be  Jehovah  will  be 
with  me,  then  I  shall  be  able  to  drive  them 


HEBRON 


35 


out,  as  Jehovah  spake.’  ” 

“Truly,  the  indomitable  Caleb  staked  his 
oaken  strength  in  the  faith  that  Jehovah  the 
God  of  our  fathers  was  with  him  to  drive  out 
the  race  of  giants  that  this  mountain  strong¬ 
hold  be  an  inheritance  to  him  and  his  children 
forever.  Let  us  magnify  the  name  of  Jehovah 
who  hath  honored  the  faith  of  this  venerable 
man  of  ancient  prowess.  But,  Adonijah,  was 
it  not  hither  in  this  very  city  of  all  the  cities 
of  Judah  that  Jehovah  directed  our  father 
David  to  come  up  out  of  the  land  of  the  Phil¬ 
istines  at  the  death  of  Saul  on  the  naked 
heights  of  Gilboa?  Was  it  not  in  this  city 
which  nestles  in  the  stern  bosom  of  this  moun¬ 
tain  that  the  sons  of  the  Lion’s  Whelp  assem¬ 
bled  to  anoint  our  father  king  over  the  house 
of  Judah?  Was  it  not  in  this  very  gate  that 
the  crafty,  heartless,  bloodstained  Joab  pre¬ 
tending  to  speak  confidentially  in  the  ear  of 
the  great  Abner  smote  him  in  the  body,  so 
that  he  died?  Did  not  all  the  tribes  of  Israel 
come  hither  even  to  this  Hebron  to  David 
our  father,  when  they  saw  his  sore  grief  for 
the  great  Abner  whom  he  had  feasted  and  sent 
away  in  peace  but  was  basely  slain  by  the 
treacherous  hand  of  Joab,  saying,  In  times 
past  when  Saul  was  king  over  us,  it  was  thou 


36 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


that  leddest  out  and  broughtest  in  Israel:  and 
Jehovah  said  to  thee,  ‘Thou  shalt  be  shepherd 
of  my  people  Israel,  and  thou  shalt  be  prince 
over  Israel?’  In  this  city  thrust  in  the  midst 
of  these  jagged  spurs  on  the  ragged  edge  of 
this  bold  mountain  our  father  king  David 
made  a  covenant  with  all  the  tribes  of  Israel 
before  Jehovah,  and  here  they  anointed  him 
king  over  Israel.” 

“Look  well  to  it,  Solomon,  that  we  catch  a 
little  sleep  in  this  remnant  of  the  night  as  the 
beasts  are  feeding.” 

Folding  her  wings  like  the  weary  bird  that 
has  sped  the  airy  plains  of  the  storm-washed 
sky  Quietness  nestles  about  the  couches  of  the 
two  princes.  The  guards  too  are  permitted  to 
sleep  that  they  are  safe  and  secure  within  the 
picturesque  walls  of  ancient  Hebron  built  of 
the  massive  rock  carved  from  the  fierce  native 
mountains.  The  exhausted  servants  sinking 
down  limp  by  the  beasts  that  are  leisurely 
chewing  provender  fall  into  a  deep  sleep. 

An  awful  stillness  steals  over  the  place  as 
a  tall  stooped  form  noiselessly  makes  its  way 
to  the  couch  of  Prince  Adonijah.  Fairly  bend¬ 
ing  and  shrinking  as  though  it  feared  lest  the 
touch  even  of  the  air  above  and  about  it  would 
make  some  creaking  or  uneven  noise  and  be- 


HEBRON 


37 


tray  the  footsteps.  Even  while  touching  the 
shoulder  of  the  Prince  and  bending  down 
close  to  the  ear  the  muffled  whisper  is  sensed 
by  the  drowsy  mind  half  awake  ere  the  duller 
sense  of  the  ear  conveyed  the  properly  phrased 
message  to  the  brain  cells  that  had  recovered 
their  self-mastery. 

“Awake,  O  Prince,  Joab  is  passing  by  the 
north  gate.  An  escort  is  waiting  for  thee.” 

Silently  the  two  forms  move  out  of  the 
sleeping  apartment  and  are  caught  away  in 
the  sweeping  folds  of  Night’s  black  robe,  even 
caught  out  of  the  subtle  vision  of  the  dreamer. 

Solomon  s  Dream 

Integrity  of  quietness  throws  its  spell  about 
the  sleepers,  wrapping  the  weary  frames  in 
the  peace  of  slumber.  But  a  mysterious  some¬ 
thing  invades  the  restful  peace  of  Solomon. 
In  the  hopeless  muddle  of  dreams  those  who 
have  gone  down  into  the  grave  are  confused 
and  mixed  with  the  living  in  the  midst  of  their 
generation.  So  Solomon  sees  the  beautiful 
prince  Absalom  with  his  heavy  suit  of  raven 
hair  falling  about  his  shoulders  in  great  grace¬ 
ful  waves  reaching  even  to  his  thighs;  his 
countenance  of  perfect  contour — not  a  single 


38 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


blemish  to  mar  the  faultless  beauty  of  his  face; 
not  a  single  flaw  in  the  symmetry  of  his  body 
from  the  crown  of  his  head  to  the  sole  of  his 
foot;  Nature  faultlessly  flawless  had  made  her 
perfect  work  on  him.  There  he  stands  in  fault¬ 
less  beauty  when  suddenly  the  door  to  the 
apartment  opens  quietly  and  Amasa  enters. 
They  two  embrace  and  caress  each  other:  the 
rough  featured  Amasa,  the  man  of  battles,  and 
the  courtly,  graceful,  and  faultlessly  beautiful 
Absalom!  “Surely  policy  has  driven  her  stakes 
deep,”  thought  Solomon,  “when  things  come 
to  this.”  But  dreams  are  scarcely  ever  logical. 
The  dreamer’s  muscles  contract  in  a  strenuous 
rigidity  as  the  nerves  twitch  the  flesh.  “This 
man  I  see  embracing  the  tricky,  wily  Absa¬ 
lom  has  the  appearance  now  of  the  weather¬ 
beaten,  coarse,  blunt,  cruel  Joab.  Yea,  I  see 
his  gray  locks  falling  all  about  his  shoulders, 
and  his  great  white  beard  sweeping  his  chest. 
The  hoarfrost  of  threescore  and  ten  winters 
has  toughened  his  flesh  and  sinew  at  the  ex¬ 
pense  of  his  soul.  How  obnoxious  to  see  the 
living  embrace  the  dead  and  enemies  at  that.” 

As  he  is  about  to  resume  this  half-eulogy 
Absalom  flees  in  long  flowing  robes  and  van¬ 
ishes:  joab  flashes  fire  from  his  eyes  as  the 
great  door  closes  him  from  sight:  thereupon 


HEBRON 


39 


the  rolling  of  mighty  thunder  shaking  the 
dome  of  the  heavens  and  sending  a  tremor 
through  the  earth,  as  a  voice  shouts  Shall 
the  house  of  David  be  divided,  fall  into  utter 
ruin,  and  be  cut  off  forever?”  Solomon  starts 
up  and  instantly  being  fully  awake  looks  in 
every  direction  for  the  speaker  from  whom 
the  voice  proceeded.  He  fixes  his  gaze  upon 
the  couch  of  his  brother  as  though  he  could 
scarcely  convince  his  mind  of  the  fact  leported 
by  the  eye.  But  just  the  same  Adonijah  is 
absent  from  his  couch.  The  dream  is  fiercely 
tangled  but  the  thing  is  true.  There  is  but 
one  thing  to  do  and  that  is  to  get  to  Jerusalem 
with  prudence  and  caution  and  at  the  same 
time  with  as  much  haste  as  possible.  El  ere 
Solomon  must  be  his  own  counselor  and  ad¬ 
viser.  Neither  dare  he  flee  in  the  night  lest 
he  arouse  suspicion  and  disclose  his  fears  to 
the  guard  and  servants.  As  his  head  presses 
the  fatiguing  pillow  waiting  for  the  plodding 
night  to  pass,  he  thinks  on  his  dream,  and  in 
like  manner  he  thinks  on  the  fears  and  sus¬ 
picions  that  haunted  him  in  the  way  as  he 
journeyed  with  his  brother  ere  he  dreamed. 
The  exacting  moment  must  reveal  to  the  per¬ 
plexed  mind  how  to  deal  with  guard  and  ser¬ 
vants  concerning  the  matter. 


40 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Dawn  breaks  over  the  steep  gulch-ripped 
hills  about  Hebron-hills  lifting  their  barren 
faces  to  that  gentle  soft  light  before  the  fading 
darkness  of  many  successive  ages,  and  craggy 
mountains  worn  bare  by  nightly  incursions  of 
robbers  who  scour  those  ancient  dark  ridges  to 
hide  away  the  rich  booty  from  the  fertile  val¬ 
leys.  All  is  set  in  order — both  guard  and  ser¬ 
vants,  and  the  train  of  Solomon  moves  out  of 
the  old  splendidly  rusty  and  weather-beaten 
walls  of  Hebron  for  Jerusalem. 


BETHLEHEM 


Joab  and  Adonijah 

A  SWIFT  runner — a  bearer  of  tidings,” 
cried  the  watchman. 

“Comes  he  out  of  the  south— from  Heb¬ 
ron?”  exclaimed  Adonijah  in  an  irritable 
voice  that  betrayed  anxious  fear. 

“My  lord,  O  Prince,  from  the  mountain 
road — from  the  rugged  Adullam,”  replied 
the  watchman. 

“He  might  have  empaled  himself  upon  one 
of  those  huge  spurs  mid  the  midnight  dark¬ 
ness.  Well  that  he  escaped  the  wild  beasts 
infesting  the  mountain  fastness.  He  must 
bring  bold  tidings.” 

“A  dexterous  runner — light  and  sure  of 
foot,  lo,  he  has  passed  that  craggy  height  with 
the  swiftness  of  the  eagle — running  at  una¬ 
bated  speed  at  the  very  edge  of  the  black 
abyss.”  Thereupon  the  watchman  clasped  his 
hands  and  held  his  breath  as  though  he  ex¬ 
pected  to  see  at  any  moment  that  runner 

41 


42 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


hurled  into  the  cavernous  jaws  of  that  gloomy 
abyss.  Then  breathing  one  long  breath  he 
shouted — “The  herald  is  here.” 

“Bid  him  enter!”  Joab  had  just  been 
aroused  out  of  a  deep  sleep  by  this  shout  an¬ 
nouncing  the  arrival  of  the  herald. 

“What  tidings?”  The  question  was  fiercely 
put  by  Joab  angered  that  his  sleep  was  broken. 

“Servants  of  my  lord  the  king  are  being 
torn  to  pieces  by  the  wild  dogs  of  Amalek 
with  their  captain  here  in  Bethlehem  miles 
away.” 

The  rebuke  of  the  herald  was  stern  and  gall¬ 
ing — firing  the  indignation  of  Joab. 

“Durst  thou  cast  this  thing  in  my  teeth, 
Philistine.  Am  I  a  dog’s  head,  snarling  whelp 
of  Asdod?”  The  captain  choked  with  anger 
— fierce  rage  clutched  him. 

“What  I  have  said,  I  have  said.  Slay  me 
with  thy  hand,  for  this  thing  shall  be  pub¬ 
lished  throughout  all  the  borders  of  Israel.” 

“Let  us  have  no  more  of  that  cheap  bab¬ 
bling,  dog.  Where  are  the  vile  beasts  of 
Amalek?  I’ll  hew  them  to  pieces  as  though 
they  were  scrub  trees  in  that  desolate  gorge 
yonder,”  demanded  Joab  in  a  chesty  de¬ 
meanor. 

“Those  howling  dogs  are  pouring  out  of  the 


BETHLEHEM 


43 


caves  in  every  direction  about  Keilah  devoui- 
ing  the  servants  of  my  lord  the  king.  In  the 
deep-cut  gulches  among  the  barren  rocks— 
in  many  places  where  no  two  can  stand  to¬ 
gether  the  King’s  servants  await  death  like 
hares  hunted  down  by  the  ambush-lurking 
thieves  of  Amalek.  Those  uncouth  ancient 
rocks  are  crimson  with  the  blood  of  the  best 
soldiers  of  Israel.  If  thou  dost  not  make  haste 
there  will  not  be  a  man  surviving  for  either  the 
shame  or  honor  of  Israel.”  An  expression  of 
indignant  disgust  passed  over  the  countenance 
of  the  messenger  as  he  made  an  end  of  speak- 

ing. 

“No  more  of  that,  dog,  say  not  what  will  or 
will  not  be.  Such  things  are  for  captains  in 
Israel  to  say.  But  dog  of  a  slave,  lead  us  into 
the  smoothest  and  most  advantageous  path 
into  the  region  of  the  rocky  and  cavernous 
Adullam.  Bid  that  slave  yonder  to  bring 
hither  the  surest  footed  beast  that  can  be  found 
in  Bethlehem,  and  seek  out  one  for  Prince 
Adonijah,  that  we  may  go,  restore  order  and 
bring  those  whelps  of  Amalek  to  account  for 
their  wanton  insolence.  I  will  smear  those 
ragged  rocks  with  the  gore  of  Amalek  and 
cause  them  to  drip  with  the  blood  of  his 
whelps;  yea,  I  will  string  their  cursed  bodies 


44 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


upon  the  trees  throughout  the  region  that  the 
craven  fowls  may  swoop  down  upon  them  as 
did  those  whelps  upon  the  spoils  of  Israel.” 

The  dews  are  well-nigh  swept  from  the 
grassy  carpet.  The  sunbeams  are  searching 
out  the  hidden  pockets  of  the  rocky  ledges.  A 
streak  of  light  is  sent  through  the  wide 
yawning  crevice  of  yonder  cliff  where  the 
eagle’s  nest  rests  on  the  ragged  crag.  Joab 
proceeds  with  Adonijah  at  his  side  in  si¬ 
lence. 

“Slave,  see  well  to  it  where  thou  guidest  us 
else  I  thrust  through  thee  this  trusty  sword 
which  has  been  tested  in  many  a  hard  battle 
and  leave  thy  worthless  carcass  to  the  cawing 
and  croaking  ravens  in  one  of  the  desolate 
spots  of  these  thirsty  ravines.” 

Turning  to  Prince  Adonijah  Joab  speaks: 
“Our  plans  for  this  day  have  miscarried.  But 
we  will  make  it  enhance  the  very  thing  we  pro¬ 
posed  by  fifty-fold:  we  will  carry  the  heads  of 
the  leaders  of  these  parasites  of  Amalek  to 
Jerusalem  and  thereby  win  all  Judah  and  Is¬ 
rael.  Noble  Prince,  thou  art  a  goodly  young 
man  and  thy  throne  shall  be  established  in 
Israel  forever,  even  as  the  Lord  swore  to  thy 
father  David,  saying,  ‘Thy  house  and  thy 
kingdom  shall  be  made  sure  forever  before 


BETHLEHEM 


45 


thee:  thy  throne  shall  be  established  forever’. 
Joab’s  gray  hairs  will  be  sacrificed  in  thy 
cause  if  the  need  be  such.  I  detest  the  strip¬ 
ling  Solomon,  that  fresh  upstart  in  the  house 
of  David.  Because  Bathsheba  rules  he  thinks 
he  must  rule.  But  who  is  the  son  of  Bathsheba 
while  the  son  of  Haggith  liveth?  I  have  been 
hard  on  thy  father  David  because  of  his  incli¬ 
nation  to  favor  this  proud  offshoot  of  the  vain 
Bathsheba.  What  warrior,  what  man  of  bat¬ 
tles  will  stand  for  a  proud  weakling  of  the 
harem  to  dictate  to  him?  Noble  Prince,  it 
will  be  the  fierce  delight  of  my  heart  to  hurl 
that  vain  woman  from  her  queenly  station  and 
to  bury  the  body  of  that  would-be  usurper 
Solomon  beneath  a  greater  heap  of  stone  than 
that  which  covers  the  carcass  of  Absalom  in 
the  forest  of  Ephraim. 

“Draw  thy  rein  a  little  to  the  right  for  the 
declivity  breaks  into  a  rough  abrupt  descent 
below  us. 

“These  hills  of  our  fathers  forbid  the  inva¬ 
sion  of  our  bitter  foes  of  the  plain — the  cursed 
Philistine,  but  make  secure  hiding  dens  for 
outlaws,  marauders,  and  thieving  bandits; 
yea,  the  cursed  offspring  of  Amalek  shelter 
themselves  in  the  shelves  of  these  very  hills — 
even  in  these  fortresses  of  our  fathers.  They 


4  6 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


hide  here  to  feed  on  our  flocks  and  herds  in  the 
pleasant  valleys.  The  Lord  hath  cursed  Am- 
alek  and  all  that  comes  forth  out  of  his  loins. 
Moses  gave  this  charge  to  our  fathers,  saying, 
Thou  shalt  blot  out  the  remembrance  of  Ama- 
lek  from  under  heaven.  Therefore,  this  rov¬ 
ing,  thieving  band  must  be  cut  off  from  the 
earth.  The  hand  of  the  Lord  our  God  will 
not  stay  till  he  has  made  a  full  end  of  him — 
even  destroying  the  cursed  offspring  root  and 
branch.  Yonder  smoke  on  the  desert  tokens 
some  scoundrel  horde  preparing  food  from 
the  spoil  for  their  insatiate,  gluttonous  maws. 
What  voracious  appetites  grip  those  dwellers 
of  the  sands?  They  knaw  up  hides  of  wild 
beasts  when  they  can  not  find  fadings  of  the 
valleys  to  swoop  down  upon.  Ah,  those  vile 
wretches,  let  their  sun-bleached  bones,  pulver¬ 
ize,  enrich  the  barren  soils  of  these  naked  hills. 
The  sword  of  Joab  will  not  be  withdrawn 
from  devouring  these  insolent  robbers  till  his 
gray  hairs  come  down  to  the  grave.  Relent¬ 
less  warfare  shall  be  waged  till  we  have  cut 
them  into  as  many  pieces  as  the  sands  of  the 
desert  out  of  which  they  sprang.” 

So  went  the  boast  of  Joab  as  they  passed 
barrier  and  cliffs;  through  narrow  defile  and 
open  valley;  into  deep  sunken  gulch  and  across 


BETHLEHEM 


47 


naked  hill,  on  which  flocks  scattered  here  and 
there  were  feeding;  into  broad  expanse  of  bot¬ 
tom  through  which  coursed  a  thin  stream  as 
clear  as  crystal  and  upon  the  open  plateau 
that  stretched  before  the  ugly  scowl  of  massive 
pile  of  great  gray  weather-beaten  rocks, 
among  which  the  horrid  raven  screamed  and 
cawed  over  his  tainted  carrion  out  of  which 
he  had  already  plucked  the  eyes.  The  ob¬ 
structing  way  twisting  and  jutting,  rising  and 
falling,  ascending  and  curving  enhanced  the 
boastful  threats  of  this  brusque  captain  of 
Israel. 


PRINCE  SOLOMON  IN  JERUSALEM 

THE  heat  of  noonday  is  past;  the  cool  of 
the  day  throws  the  shadows  in  the  direc¬ 
tion  of  sunrise  as  a  herald  announces  at  the 
gate  of  the  palace  the  advent  of  Prince  Solo¬ 
mon.  Quickly  a  messenger  is  dispatched  to 
the  Prince  to  inform  him  of  the  feeble  con¬ 
dition  of  the  king,  his  father.  All  Jerusalem 
is  uneasy;  Mt.  Zion  is  in  heavy  sadness,  yea, 
tears  are  shed  upon  the  holy  hill  of  the  Lord. 
A  great  anxiety  is  everywhere  throughout  the 
Holy  City.  A  sad  birthday.  Shall  it  be 
turned  into  a  day  of  weeping  and  lamentation? 
Shall  a  solemn  assembly  be  called  to  pray  for 
the  health  of  the  beloved  old  king?  Where 
are  Joab  and  Adonijah?  Why  do  they  tarry? 
Have  they  no  concern  for  the  king?  Things 
of  late  have  taken  on  a  suspicious  character? 
A  dark  threat  that  the  house  of  David  will  be 
rent  in  twain.  Trouble  is  heaping  upon  the 
withering  frame  of  the  old  king.  He  is  failing 
fast.  His  faithful  people  see  it.  They  seek 
to  remove  the  strain,  and  add  every  possible 

48 


PRINCE  SOLOMON  IN  JERUSALEM  49 

comfort.  Their  hearts  are  at  one  in  David. 
They  can  not  understand  how  those  within  his 
house  can  be  at  variance. 

Yet  have  they  not  seen  Adonijah,  the  son  of 
Haggith,  prepare  himself  chariots  and  horse¬ 
men,  and  fifty  men  to  run  before  him,  and  pass 
in  great  pomp  through  the  streets  of  the  city? 
Neither  have  they  heard  the  king  question 
his  action  in  this  matter.  Was  not  Joab  al¬ 
ways  with  him,  and  Joab  is  the  chief  captain 
of  the  king’s  army?  Adonijah  is  a  goodly 
young  man,  and  the  one  to  whom  the  people 
turned  their  eyes  as  David’s  successor. 

As  they  are  discussing  these  things  in  squad 
and  congregation  throughout  the  city,  Nathan 
assembles  the  people  and  addresses  them  con¬ 
cerning  the  king’s  health.  He  incidently  re¬ 
fers  to  the  return  of  Solomon  and  refers  to 
him  as  the  Prince  whom  the  king  most  de¬ 
lights  to  honor.  On  account  of  the  feeble¬ 
ness  of  the  king  they  have  decided  to  forego 
the  great  festival,  but  the  Prince  is  arranging 
for  a  meal  in  the  evening  that  all  who  wish 
may  come  to  the  king’s  table  quietly.  Such  is 
the  kindness  of  David  who  is  old  and  infirm 
and  must  of  a  necessity  depart  to  sleep  with 
his  fathers. 

The  people  hear  in  grave  silence,  and  when 


S0  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

Nathan  makes  an  end  of  speaking  they  bow 
themselves  to  the  earth,  and  utter  one  voice  of 
deep  affection:  “Long  live  our  lord  the  king. 
God  of  our  fathers,  spare  thy  servant  David 
to  us  many  days.  May  his  life  be  precious 

in  thy  sight,  O  Lord  our  God. 

The  work  of  preparation  proceeds  Quietly. 
Everything  is  done  in  order  and  great  pre¬ 
cision.  The  meat  of  the  many  sheep  and  oxen 
is  well  looked  to.  The  finest  of  the  wheat 
is  used  unsparingly.  The  choicest  of  the  flour 
and  the  best  of  the  liquid  honey  from  the  rock 
is  for  the  king  himself.  Also  the  gazelles  and 
roebucks  along  with  other  most  savory  meats 
in  abundance  are  carefully  prepared  for  the 
king’s  own  table.  Such  preparation  is  in  such 
abundance  that  he  might  send  out  as  he 

pleased  to  his  servants. 

As  the  sun  strikes  the  golden  brush  over 

branches  of  ancient  oak  and  low  boughs  of 
elms  painting  wattled  images  upon  the  face  of 
the  ancient  walls  of  the  city  as  the  evening 
breezes  begin  to  stir  among  the  branches  in  a 
low  murmur,  the  chief  butler  stands  on  the 
King’s  porch  and  gives  the  words  to  his  subor¬ 
dinates,  saying,  “All  is  now  ready.” 

In  perfect  order  they  sit  about  the  king  s 
table  and  eat  of  the  well-cooked  meat  and  of 


PRINCE  SOLOMON  IN  JERUSALEM  51 


well-baked  cakes  from  the  king’s  ovens,  bless¬ 
ing  the  king  all  the  while  and  saying  one  to 
the  other — “Is  it  not  full  time  for  the  maiden 
of  the  garden  of  Shulam?”  The  great  whis¬ 
pering  wave  returns  to  silence  of  hearts  full 
of  baffled  perplexities  till  the  sea  of  human 
emotion  should  heave  again  only  to  be  lost  in 
sighs  of  the  unlimited  unknown. 


THE  COUNCIL 


WHAT,  a  trumpet!  All  Jerusalem  astir! 

An  Assembly  about  the  North  Gate 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  Ben-Isaac  and  his 
train.  The  restless  tide  is  on.  As  Ben-Isaac 
enters  the  City-gate  the  stillness  of  death  is 
welding  the  multitude  of  seething  expectancy 
into  one  great  silent  mass.  The  captain  lifts 
his  hand  and  as  he  withholds  in  dumb  hesi¬ 
tancy  the  stress  and  the  tension  become  tense. 

“Th-i-s-this  Shunammite  I — well,  here  is 
the  virgin.” 

Fain  would  a  shout  have  burst  upon  the  air 
but  as  it  is,  a  thick  muffled  sound  rolls  through 
the  streets  of  the  city.  Ben-Isaac  recovering 
his  self-possession  and  poise  makes  an  address 
to  the  multitude  from  which  the  tremor  has 
passed. 

“Among  the  roses  and  lilies  I  saw  her  but 
they  were  in  beauty  as  nothing  to  her.  More 
graceful  and  comely  than  the  cedars  of  Leb¬ 
anon ;  a  blush  deeper  than  the  crimson  of 
the  rose;  a  countenance  fairer  than  the  pure 

52 


THE  COUNCIL 


53 


white  lily.  Here  I  present  her  to  the  judges 
that  the  king  may  suffer  no  hurt.  O  noble 
judges  with  eyes  keen  and  searching,  if  ye  in¬ 
dorse  what  mine  eyes  have  seen  as  flawless 
beautiful  then  all  shall  be  well  with  the  king. 
Noble  Ben-Hebra  of  Jericho  wilt  thou  preside 
as  chief  judge,  and  Joshua  of  Gibeon  wilt  thou 
be  vice-counsel  that  all  be  done  in  the  strict 
order  that  the  best  of  results  be  obtained.” 

What  a  council  of  sturdy  men  assembled 
within  the  ancient  gate!  Ben-Hebra  sedate 
in  his  ruling  dignity  stands  before  the  assem¬ 
bly  of  wise  and  venerable  men,  stroking  his 
long  white  beard  that  falls  over  his  broad, 
well  developed  chest.  As  his  hand  moves 
slowly  down  to  the  very  tip  of  his  great  beard 
extending  to  his  waist  the  fair  maiden  is 
placed  at  his  side.  Every  eye  of  the  council 
is  riveted  upon  her. 

“Fairer  than  Rebekah  of  Jericho  is  the 
faultless  figure  of  this  dark  eyed,  raven  haired 
Shunammite.  Elders  of  Israel,  judge  ye 
whether  she  can  meet  the  requirements  to  min¬ 
ister  unto  and  cherish  our  Lord  King  David. 
Yea,  would  she  not  be  eligible  for  the  harem 
if  the  king  so  desires  her?”  So  the  respected 
Ben-Herba  spoke,  glancing  over  the  hoary 
heads  of  the  counselors. 


54 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Yea,  she  is  fairer  than  Dinah  of  Gibeon 
whom  I  had  wellnigh  persuaded  myself  to 
bring  here  for  this  assembly  to  pass  upon. 
Indeed  any  less  fair  than  this  Shunammite 
would  cause  me  to  regret  having  left  off  the 
decision.  Truly  I  would  double  back  my  way 
to  Gibeon  and  fetch  her  yet,  if  this  maiden  in 
my  judgment  did  not  answer  every  require¬ 
ment.  She  will  be  like  a  rose  full-blown  on 
the  bosom  of  our  king.  Yea,  she  will  not 
only  yield  a  full  measure  of  sweetness — fra¬ 
grance  of  an  unfolding  life  in  all  its  tender¬ 
ness,  but  will  impart  warmth  of  sunshine  to 
the  frail  frame  of  our  king.  The  king  shall 
receive  the  very  heat  of  youth  from  this  mai¬ 
den  who  shall  lie  in  his  bosom.”  So  the  ven¬ 
erable  Joshua  spoke,  all  the  while  parting 
with  his  right  hand  with  great  deliberation 
his  silvery  sprinkled  beard  flowing  to  either 
side.  He  was  fully  orthodox  in  every  way, 
tracing  his  descent  from  Joshua  the  son  of 
Nun.  None  dare  dispute  his  claim  either. 
There  could  be  no  mistake  in  his  count  in  the 
line  of  genealogy.  He  was  but  the  fifth  from 
the  great  Joshua  who  succeeded  Moses,  and 
each  of  his  ancestors  had  obtained  well  nigh 
the  century  mark. 

Then  slowly  rises  the  sanguine  and  august 


THE  COUNCIL 


55 


Ben-Caleb  of  Hebron,  his  long  shaggy  hair 
falling  over  and  about  his  shoulders.  He 
stands  in  the  midst  of  these  venerable  men  as 
a  very  great  giant  in  stature.  His  large,  deep- 
set  eyes  looking  out  from  their  cavernous  re¬ 
cesses  upon  the  serene  assembly  of  men  who 
hold  great  power  in  reserve,  seem  to  speak 
his  sentiment  in  regard  to  the  whole  matter. 
This  man  from  the  region  of  the  caves  of  the 
giants  of  renown  speaks  distinctly  and  clearly 
with  great  deliberation.  He  speaks  as  though 
the  entire  night  is  his  and  there  should  not  be 
any  alarm  if  he  takes  some  of  the  rosy  tint  of 
the  morning  for  the  glow  of  his  climax. 

“Worthy  Judges,  ye  perceive  this  damsel 
to  be  praised  most  highly  by  the  famed  eldei 
Ben-Hebra,  and  also  ye  have  heard  that  she 
meets  in  every  way  the  approval  of  the  ven¬ 
erable  Joshua  of  Gibeon,  and  who  would 
question  this  son  of  Joshua,  the  son  of  Nun? 
But  I  would  like  to  state  a  few  things  con¬ 
cerning  the  fair  damsel.  It  were  better  if  she 
was  from  the  tribe  of  Caleb.  Her  face  would 
be  more  strongly  developed  and  therefore 
even  more  beautiful  than  it  is.  I  am  sure  she 
would  have  a  more  sturdy  body  which  would 
add  and  not  detract  from  her  grace  and  charm. 
Besides  David  has  a  special  liking  for  the 


56 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Calebites — At  this  all  turn  and  stare  him 
in  the  face,  so  that  his  ease  and  deliberation 
somewhat  desert  him.  However,  he  resumes 
— “But  I  believe  she  is  about  as  beautiful  and 
as  suitable  a  maiden  as  could  be  found  any¬ 
where  within  the  borders  of  David’s  King¬ 
dom.” 

There  is  a  sigh  of  relief  as  Ben-Caleb  seats 
himself  among  the  elders  again.  All  eyes  are 
now  turned  to  Aaron  of  Ramah,  for  he  is 
acquainted  with  the  school  of  the  prophets — - 
being  conversant  with  many  of  their  ideas 
about  God’s  choice  of  David  in  Saul’s  stead, 
and  he  also  can  partly  at  least  trace  his  de¬ 
scent  from  the  great  High  Priest — Aaron  the 
brother  of  Moses.  He  is  lofty  in  bearing 
and  has  the  air  of  a  teacher — always  scrupu¬ 
lous  in  observing  the  Levitical  law.  The  pre¬ 
siding  judge  with  a  glance  of  dignity  bids  him 
speak. 

“Brethren  and  kinsmen,  as  ye  all  know  that 
I  aim  to  keep  myself  from  unclean  bird  and 
four-footed  beast;  yet  as  I  was  passing  through 
those  dark,  gloomy,  abrupt  cliffs  of  the  brook 
Cherith,  mine  eyes  spied  that  loathsome,  un¬ 
clean  hoopoe,  perched  upon  a  rugged  bough 
stretching  over  the  yawning  abyss  from  the 
lofty  ragged  side  of  one  cliff  to  the  other.  The 


THE  COUNCTI 


57 


sight  of  its  crest  which  the  dogs  of  Gentiles 
call  elegant  so  disturbed  me  that  I  fear  I  shall 
not  be  able  to  give  any  sober  opinion  of  this 
maiden.  As  I  look  upon  her  raven  hair  I 
think  of  the  black  tips  of  the  feathers  that 
form  the  crest  of  that  unclean  bird.  Then  too 
the  horrid  raven  is  always  flying  before  my 
eyes,  so  I  humbly  beg  to  be  excused  from  any 
further  comment.” 

There  is  an  instantaneous  clearing  of 
throats  throughout  the  assembly  as  the  vener¬ 
able  presiding  officer  rises  and  speaks: — “Fel¬ 
low  elders,  seeing  how  brother  Aaron  of  Ra- 
mah  is  affected  at  the  sight  of  that  unclean 
bird  we  must  make  it  as  pleasant  as  possible 
for  him  that  his  mental  poise  and  vigor  may 
be  restored  and  we  trust  unimpaired  at  such 
a  shock  as  he  must  surely  have  received.  We 
will  call  upon  Moses  of  Shunem  to  speak 
next;  perhaps  he  is  more  expert  in  getting  at 
the  question  in  hand  than  either  our  friend 
Ben-Caleb,  or  our  brother  Aaron  of  Ramah. 
He  is  famed  to  be  a  man  of  flesh  and  blood. 
Elder  Moses,  we  wish  to  hear  from  thee.” 

“The  respected  Ben-Hebra  refers  to  me  as 
a  man  of  flesh  and  blood  and  I  consider  it 
about  the  best  thing  that  can  be  said  of  a  man 
in  an  over-pious  assembly.  I  can  judge  a  beau- 


58 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


tiful  woman  when  I  see  her  about  as  readily 
as  my  friend  Ben-Caleb  from  the  south  knows 
good  meat  when  he  tastes  it.  I  have  been  long 
acquainted  with  this  fair  Abishag.  Tell  me 
what  man  of  Shunem  has  not  had  his  heart 
smitten  with  her  beauty.  If  there  is  a  man  in 
Shunem  who  is  not  a  man  of  flesh  and  blood  he 
has  not  gotten  a  sight  of  her.  She  would  melt 
down  the  heart  of  brother  Aaron  of  Ramah  if 
he  lived  in  Shunem.  His  pious  conscience 
would  let  his  heart  feast  on  the  tall  crest  of 
the  hoopoe.”  (There  is  a  slight  shuffling  at  this 
thought  to  be  unguarded  remark;  but  the  ora¬ 
tor  blazed  away  taking  no  notice  of  the  dis¬ 
turbance.)  “Do  not  regard  me  as  a  dog  of  a 
Gentile.  We  would  not  exchange  our  piety  for 
these  unclean  birds — but  then  the  law  does 
not  say  ye  shall  not  look  upon  them  and  ad¬ 
mire  them.  I  tell  you  the  richness  of  the  most 
gaudy  plumage  of  birds  is  but  faint  compared 
to  the  excellence  of  beauty  of  this  modest  and 
charming  Shunammite,  and  were  not  Moses 
old  and  the  lover  of  many  wives  he  would 
have - ” 

“Friend  Moses,  refrain  from  saying  any¬ 
thing  further  that  might  disturb  this  august  as¬ 
sembly.  We  all  prize  thy  estimate  and  are 
willing  to  vote  without  further  comment  or 


THE  COUNCIL 


59 


delay.” 

Then  with  a  rare  bearing  of  dignity  the 
presiding  judge  surveys  the  venerable  heads 
of  the  assembly  and  delivers  the  charge. 

“My  most  excellent  and  worthy  fellow-citi¬ 
zens,  take  heed,  look  well  to  our  revered  king 
David  in  casting  the  vote  for  or  against  this 
maiden.” 

As  the  lordly  Ben-Hebra  speaks  he  rests 
himself  against  the  huge  buttress  of  the  wall 
of  the  ancient  gate.  Complete  silence  reigns 
over  all  as  the  votes  of  the  reserved  elders  are 
taken.  There  is  not  one  dissenting  vote.  When 
Ben-Hebra  announces  that  the  council  is  one 
voice  in  favor  of  the  fair  Abishag  even  those 
sturdy  men  are  moved  to  applause  though  it  is 
done  in  a  muffled  way  so  that  it  sounds  like 
the  imprisoning  of  the  waters  of  many  seas. 


THE  PALACE 


THE  chariot  of  the  day  is  driven  close  to 
the  border-land  of  the  night.  The  Sky 
brings  her  smiling  blushes  from  out  the  deep 
veil  of  darkness.  The  Earth  kissed  with  gen¬ 
tle  dews  rejoices  in  the  presence  of  the  sun. 
Yet  the  old  king  sleeps  easier  than  at  any  time 
during  the  past  night,  for  much  of  the  time  he 
tossed  about  upon  his  bed  and  looked  for  the 
end  of  the  morning  watch  with  many  moans 
and  sighs.  As  he  rests,  the  palace  is  buried  in 
silence  as  undisturbed  as  death.  “The  king 
sleeps”  is  the  word  the  messenger  from  the 
palace  brings  to  Ben-Hebra  who  is  waiting  in 
the  gate.  The  golden  Chariot  of  the  Sun 
climbs  the  steep  hill  of  heaven  with  nothing 
but  news  of  silence  from  the  palace.  Now 
the  Philistine  guard — the  Cherethites  and  the 
Pelethites,  over  whom  was  Benaiah  the  son 
of  Jehoiada,  stand  faithful  watch  about  the 
palace.  Many  messages  are  received  by  the 
servants  of  Ben-Isaac  through  these  as  they 
had  instructions  directly  from  within  the  pal- 

60 


THE  PALACE 


6 1 

ace.  David  had  come  more  fully  to  trust  these 
guards  in  his  closing  days  as  he  himself  retired 
from  his  wars  within  the  bosom  of  his  harem. 

“My  lord,  here  comes  a  Pelethite,”  cries  a 
watchman  to  Ben-Hebra  who  is  just  dosing 
in  a  slight  slumber. 

“Bid  him  enter,”  is  the  quick  reply  from 
within  the  gate. 

“Is  it  well  with  my  lord  the  king?”  inquires 
Ben-Hebra  with  a  sort  of  uneasiness  in  his 
voice. 

“My  lord,  all  is  well  with  the  king.  Sweet 
has  been  his  slumber  in  these  morning  hours 
— with  the  breaking  of  the  rosy  dawn  and  the 
heating  of  the  glowing  sun.  He  now  inquires 
after  the  captains  who  have  gone  throughout 
the  borders  of  Israel  to  seek  a  fair  damsel  that 
he  may  get  heat.” 

“His  captains  are  waiting  to  act  at  his  pleas¬ 
ure,”  remarks  the  venerable  Ben-Hebra 
showing  great  relief  in  the  very  articulation 
of  the  words  uttered.  “That  the  king  may 
suffer  no  shock,  for  he  is  almost  nerveless,  my 
brave  fellow,  wouldst  thou  break  the  tidings 
to  him?” 

The  giant  Pelethite  throws  himself  to  the 
ground  and  kisses  the  earth  saying,  “A  thou¬ 
sand  times  am  I  thankful  for  this  privilege, 


6  2 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


most  noble  Ben-Hebra.  But  is  it  a  light  thing 
that  the  great  king  David  should  hear  the 
tidings  from  this  dog  of  a  slave?” 

The  deep  crimson  rose-mesh  sends  its  fra¬ 
grance  into  the  palace  as  the  door  opens  to  in¬ 
form  the  king  that  one  of  the  Pelethites  has  a 
message  for  him. 

“Bid  him  enter,”  says  a  feeble  voice,  which 
seems  to  strengthen  with  the  giving  of  each 
word.  It  is  as  though  he  scents  the  message  in 
the  fragrance  that  comes  in  at  the  opening  of 
the  door. 

“My  watcher,  faithful  in  all  the  king’s  de¬ 
lights,  hast  thou  a  message  fraught  with 
good?” 

The  giant  watcher  bows  himself  three  times 
falling  prostrate  at  the  feet  of  the  king,  say¬ 
ing,  “May  the  king  live  forever,  my  lord,  the 
tidings  are  good.  This  unworthy  dog  of  a 
slave  is  permitted  to  say  unto  thee,  O  king, 
that  the  fair  damsel  is  found,  and  awaits  thy 
pleasure  to  enter  thy  presence.  O  mighty 
king  of  the  Hebrews,  may  thy  youth  be  re¬ 
newed  like  the  eagle’s  and  may  thy  servants 

rejoice  in  thee  forever.” 

The  stately  David  bows  his  head  upon  his 
couch  and  remains  in  unbroken  silence  for  a 
long  while.  His  faithful  chamberlain  is  at 


THE  PALACE 


63 


his  side  carefully  watching  to  detect  should 
the  slightest  move  be  made.  But  none  is  to 
be  seen — even  the  eyes  are  hidden  away  in  the 
great  pillow.  At  length  the  arm  is  drawn 
aside  a  trifle.  Stooping  to  lift  the  king  that 
the  butler  may  administer  a  little  wine,  the  offi¬ 
cer  of  the  king’s  bedchamber  hears  a  feeble 
whispep — “Can  I  enjoy  the  comfort  of  a  mai¬ 
den  who  is  brought  to'  the  palace  at  such  a 
cost?” 

Prince  Solomon  entered  just  a  few  minutes 
before  the  messenger  arrived,  as  it  was  the 
pleasure  of  the  king  his  father  to  commune 
with  the  Prince  each  morning  after  waking. 
When  the  messenger  is  about  to  depart  out 
of  the  presence  of  the  king,  Prince  Solomon 
rises  to  go  out  with  him  but  the  king  bids  him 
stay. 

“Tarry  with  me,  my  son.  I  have  need  of 
thy  judgment  in  this  matter.  My  servants 
know  well  what  is  pleasing  to  their  king,  but 
thou,  beloved  son,  art  expert  in  things  that 
find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  thy  father.  Theiefore, 
I  rely  upon  thee  with  full  confidence  that  thy 
wisdom  will  not  miscarry.  So  tarry  till  this 
fair  virgin  arrives.” 

The  king  observing  the  uneasy  manner  of 
the  Prince,  bids  the  butler  fill  the  wine-cup 


6  4 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


with  the  rarest  of  wine  and  wait  at  the  pleas¬ 
ure  of  the  king’s  son. 

“Let  not  the  matters  of  state  hang  too  heavy 
upon  thee,  Solomon.  These  things  are  too 
heavy  even  for  one  of  mature  frame.  Let  a 
large  share  of  the  burden  fall  upon  Nathan 
and  Benaiah — they  are  accustomed  to  things 
of  state  and  therefore  can  dispose  of  them 
with  ease.” 

No  sooner  has  the  king  made  an  end  of 
charging  his  son  to  take  the  proper  caution  in 
safeguarding  his  health  in  assuming  responsi¬ 
bilities  that  come  to  those  who  bear  rule,  than 
the  door  opens  to  the  king’s  chamber  and  a 
voice  announces,  saying,  “My  lord,  O  king, 
the  Shunammite  with  her  escort  Ben-Isaac  are 
awaiting  thy  pleasure.” 

“Enter,  noble  Ben-Isaac,  with  the  maiden 
that  we  may  look  upon  her.” 

As  she  enters,  her  raven  hair  in  great  tresses 
falling  about  her  well  developed,  sun-browned 
shoulders,  and  her  stately  form  in  every  par¬ 
ticular  symmetrical — blending  in  perfect 
graces  of  the  delicate  curves  of  beauty  as  air 
and  sunshine  alone  can  perfect,  modesty 
presses  her  charm  into  the  highest  tension  and 
shyness  makes  her  eyes  powerful  in  irresistible 
attractiveness  while  deep  affection  speaks  from 


THE  PALACE 


65 


every  expression  of  her  countenance  and  hid¬ 
den  smiles  are  everywhere  in  the  deep  crim¬ 
son  of  her  blush;  yea,  beneath  her  swarthy 
skin  there  is  a  deep  hidden  strain  of  sadness 
too.  All  these  pierce  the  king’s  heart  with  a 
bewitching  something,  he  knows  not  what.  It 
is  more  than  simple  beauty  breaking  in  upon 
his  soul.  It  is  overpowering  him  as  he  rests 
in  the  arms  of  Solomon  and  speaks  faintly: 

“Now  do  I  remember  the  fields  and  Bath- 
sheba.  This  maiden  brings  back  my  whole 
life,  and  spells  it  out  when  nature  is  about  to 
place  the  final  mark  upon  it  complete  or  in¬ 
complete  as  it  may  be.  There  is  something 
about  this  maiden  that  troubles  me.  Were  not 
the  fields  my  great  delight  and  the  caverns  my 
home?  Did  not  I  learn  to  sing  in  the  full  lib¬ 
erty  of  unrestrained  youth  with  the  freedom 
of  the  hills  and  the  gladness  of  the  meadows 
that  which  gushed  up  within  my  soul,  refresh¬ 
ing  my  life  with  the  youth  of  the  eagle — sing¬ 
ing  of  the  sustaining  mercies  and  protecting 
care  of  Jehovah  my  God: 

‘The  Lord  is  my  shepherd;  I  shall  not  want. 
He  maketh  me  to  lie  down  in  green  pastures; 
He  leadeth  me  besides  the  still  waters; 

He  restoreth  my  soul: 


66 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


He  leadeth  me  in  the  paths  of  righteousness 
for  his  name’s  sake.’ 

“Was  1  not  always  a  man  of  war  and  did  I 
not  rejoice  with  the  little  hills  about  me?  Ah, 
my  youth  is  renewed  in  its  full  flush  as  I  look 
upon  this  fair  Shunammite.  Yet  I  must  re¬ 
main  within  the  walls  of  this  palace,  ano  must 
I  ask  this  noble  Shunammite  to  do  the  same? 
Must  she  share  in  the  infirmity  of  an  old 
king?  Her  mother  crowned  her  with  beauty 
and  loveliness  as  well  as  liberty  like  that  of 
the  eagles  the  day  she  bore  her  in  yonder  rus¬ 
tic  cottage.  Shall  an  old  king  take  away  this 
liberty  which  her  mother  has  bestowed  upon 
her?  By  the  kine  of  Bashan,  my  son  Solomon, 
she  shall  have  her  liberty  with  virginity  un¬ 
spotted  after  that  I  am  gathered  unto  my 
fathers. 

“May  this  damsel  be  taken  to  the  king’s  table, 
and  let  my  servants  place  the  best  of  the  fruits 
of  the  land  before  her;  yea,  let  her  eat  of  the 
finest  of  the  flour  and  let  the  choicest  of  the 
meal  be  made  ready  for  her;  and  the  purest  of 
the  honey  from  the  rock,  let  it  be  set  before 
her,  that  she  may  eat  and  be  glad  in  the  king’s 
palace.  Then  let  her  be  taken  to  the  Queen’s 
chamber  and  let  her  be  arrayed  in  the  goodli- 


THE  PALACE  67 

est  garments  that  her  beauty  may  be  excellent 
before  me.” 

Then  did  they  to  the  maiden  as  they  were 
bidden — according  to  all  the  words  of  the 
king’s  commandment  to  his  servant  concern¬ 
ing  the  Shunammite. 

As  the  servants  went  forth  with  the  Shu¬ 
nammite  the  king  requested  of  Solomon  that 
he  give  his  estimate  of  the  maiden,  saying, 

“My  son,  what  thinkest  thou  of  this  maiden 
that  has  been  before  me?  Counsel  me  as  my 
strength  is  beginning  already  to  fail  from 
over-exertion  in  the  matter.” 

“All  nations  know  that  thou  hast  been  a 
faithful  king,  my  father,  subduing  the  enemies 
of  thy  people,  therefore  thou  deservest  well 
from  the  hands  of  thy  servants.  Thy  captains 
have  shown  wisdom  and  discretion  in  making 
this  choice  of  the  fairest  of  virgins.  Great 
credit  is  due  them — but  how  could  it  have 
been  otherwise?  She  is  the  only  one  of  her 
mother — fair  as  the  lily  of  the  valley.  Yea, 
what  are  the  roses  of  Sharon  compared  with 
her  beauty?  She  is  fairer  to  look  upon  than 
the  orchards  of  Shulam,  and  what  are  the 
crimson  flower  of  the  pomegranate  to  the  deep 
blush  of  modesty  upon  her  cheek?  Wherein 
shall  we  liken  the  beauty  of  her  who  rejoices 


68 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


among  the  shepherds  of  Shulam?  She  is  as 
gentle  as  the  dews;  as  powerful  as  the  morning 
sun  that  wipes  the  dews  from  the  face  of  the 
tender  plant.  She  soothes  the  heart  and  masters 
the  mind.  The  juice  of  the  vine  makes  glad 
the  heart  of  man,  but  what  is  that  gladness 
with  the  unexcelled  delight  that  pours  into 
the  soul  of  man  at  the  sight  of  this  fairest  of 
the  daughters  of  Israel?  She  stands  before 
thee,  father,  unexcelled  in  beauty,  unrivaled 
in  goodly  figure  of  body,  unequaled  in  be¬ 
witching  graces  of  form,  unsurpassed  in  the 
modestv  of  her  smile  and  charm  of  her  ele- 
gant  expression;  yea,  who  can  describe  the 
tenderness  of  her  eyes?  She  is  altogether 
lovely.” 

Then  did  the  sparkle  return  to  the  eye  of 
the  old  king  as  he  said: — “My  son,  thou  hast 
much  praise  for  her  beauty.  Thine  eyes  are 
keen  and  thy  soul  is  susceptible  of  the  delicate 
touches  of  beauty.  Thou  art  eyes  and  soul  to 
thy  father  whose  body  is  withering  and  fast 
hastening  to  decay.  I  will  not  question  thy 
judgment  but  will  readily  consent  that  it  is 
all  even  as  thou  hast  said.  But - ” 

“My  father,  thou  needest  not  rely  solely 
upon  my  judgment  in  this  matter.  Thy  cap¬ 
tains  have  affirmed  all  this  ere  ever  my  eyes 


THE  PALACE 


69 


fell  upon  the  Shulammite.” 

“Thy  judgment  is  final,  my  son.  But  I  was 
about  to  ask  why  Joab  came  not  with  thee 
yesterday?  Has  he  no  concern  for  his  king 
at  all?  Is  Adonijah,  thy  brother  in  the  city?” 

“Joab  and  Adonijah  were  as  far  as  Bethle¬ 
hem  yesterday  at  the  rising  of  the  sun  but  were 
turned  back  to  recover  men  and  spoils  from 
the  wolves  of  Amalek  who  had  come  to  devour 
the  men  of  Joab  with  the  sword  and  take  the 
spoils  for  themselves,  Joab  having  left  the 
spoil  taken  from  the  Philistines  to  every  man 
to  take  as  he  would.” 

“That  is  like  the  self-willed  Joab  to  utterly 
disregard  my  wishes  and  leave  his  men  a  prey 
to  roving  bandits.  He  has  filled  my  life  with 
bitterness  and  trouble.  Like  the  wine-press 
the  juices  of  the  grape  he  presses  out  my  very 
life-blood.  He  exacts  the  last  drop.  He  has 
poured  out  the  blood  of  better  men  than  him¬ 
self  in  his  wanton  recklessness,  but  why  in  the 
name  of  the  everlasting  hills  doth  he  continue 
to  rave  at  my  every  wish?  This  son  of  Zeruiah 
is  too  hard  for  me.” 

Then  the  king  breaks  down  in  tears,  his  head 
having  fallen  forward  with  his  chin  and  great 
beard  pressed  hard  to  his  chest.  Solomon 
hastens  to  lift  up  the  drooping  head  as  the 


70 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


lips  of  David  feebly  mutter — “O  for  Abner 
the  son  of  Ner!”  Solomon  whispers:  “Be  of 
good  cheer,  father,  thou  hast  as  strong  a  cap¬ 
tain  in  the  sturdy  and  faithful  Benaiah  the  son 
of  Jehoiada.” 

“Yea,  as  strong  perhaps,  my  son,  but - ” 

“Let  not  the  cruel,  obstinate  Joab  inflame 
thy  mind  with  madness  like  to  that  of  Saul  the 
son  of  Kish.  Such  dark  bitterness  wrecked 
the  house  of  Saul  as  thou  well  knowest.  Is  it 
not  high  time  for  thee  the  king  to  be  master 
lest  the  house  of  David  be  as  the  house  of 
Saul?  Hast  thou  not  always  put  thy  trust  in 
the  Lord  the  king  of  Captains?  Will  He  not 
strengthen  the  hand  of  David  even  now?” 

At  these  words  David  was  stirred  as  though 
finding  something  neglected  from  which  he 
had  derived  the  secret  of  all  his  strength  in  the 
days  of  his  vigor. 

“Yea,  the  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress, 
and  my  deliverer; 

My  God,  my  rock,  in  whom  I  will  take 
refuge ; 

My  shield,  and  the  horn  of  my  salvation,  my 
high  tower.” 

As  he  pronounces  “horn  of  my  salvation” 


THE  PALACE 


7i 


his  head  is  erect  as  though  his  eye  is  surveying 
the  whole  land  of  his  deliverance — as  though 
exulting  in  the  sweep  of  the  grand  view  from 
Dan  to  Beersheba;  from  the  lofty  table-land 
of  Gilead  to  the  rose-covered  plain  of  Sharon 
at  the  foot  of  Carmel.  He  completely  aban¬ 
dons  himself  to  the  unseen  spirit  that  is  trans¬ 
lating  from  his  withering  frame  into  David 
the  hero  with  an  effervescent  vigor  for  con¬ 
quest  this  greatest  of  the  kings  of  the  Hebrews. 
In  the  exaltation  of  his  soul  he  exclaims: 

“Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  And  all  that  is 
within  me  bless  his  holy  name; 

Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul,  And  forget  not  all 
his  benefits.” 

As  he  is  about  to  repeat  that  grand  summary 
of  the  benefits  the  Lord  had  bestowed  upon  his 
soul,  the  door  opens,  the  fair  Shunammite  en¬ 
tering  arrayed  in  one  of  the  gowns  of  Bath- 
sheba  which  she  wore  when  first  coming  into 
the  house  of  David.  The  sight  of  the  damsel 
pleases  the  king  exceeding  well.  His  ser¬ 
vants  are  dismissed  that  the  king  might  be 
alone  to  commune  with  her.  The  glow  of 
youthful  ardor  returns  to  the  face  of  David  as 
Solomon  withdraws  with  the  servants. 


72 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


The  Over-mastering  Passion 

Solomon  abandons  the  royal  chamber  to  his 
father  and  the  fair  nurse  of  Shunem.  As  he 
goes  forth  he  hums  to  himself  unmindful  of 
those  about  him. 

“Naught  can  I  see  but  the  garden  of  Shulam, 

Naught  but  the  flower  of  the  pomegranate 
tree, 

Naught  but  the  vine  that  is  budding  in  Shu¬ 
lam, 

Naught  but  the  form  that  is  fairest  to  me.” 

Stung  and  smitten  at  heart  he  stops  with 
“the  form  that  is  fairest  to  me”  and  walks  on 
in  silence.  Too  sacred  and  full  for  expres¬ 
sion:  love  gushes  and  imagery  rushes  in  over¬ 
whelming  silence.  He  makes  his  way  in  di¬ 
rection  of  his  own  harem.  He  changes  and 
silently  mutters — “Not  the  harem  to-day.  I 
must  betake  myself  to  some  weatherbeaten 
cliff,  for  is  she  not  shut  up  within  the  doors 
of  the  palace?” 

He  sets  his  foot  toward  the  gate  of  the  city 
and  is  soon  by  the  fountain  Gihon.  Having 
refreshed  himself  he  moves  on  to  the  rough 
moss-covered  rocks  of  the  south.  Will  he  hide 


THE  PALACE 


73 


away  in  one  of  those  great  clefts  and  conceal 
the  image  of  her  eye  from  him?  He  seeks 
the  dark  cleft  only  to  have  it  pierce  deeper, 
having  full  mastery  here  at  the  exclusion  of 
the  rest  of  the  world. 

“Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  love;  behold  thou 
art  fair; 

Thine  eyes  are  as  doves  behind  thy  veil.” 

The  mind’s  wrapt  in  contemplation  as  he 
thinks  of  Sharon’s  rosy  plain,  and  the  deep 
broad  valleys  of  the  land  with  brilliant  scarlet 
and  purple  lilies  among  the  thorny  shrubs. 
But  what  are  lilies  among  thorns  to  be  com¬ 
pared  with  her  who  concentrates  all  beauty  in 
consummate  sweetness  in  her  soul? 

“Let  the  shadows  lengthen;  let  the  sun  hide 
behind  these  ancient  hills;  let  the  moon  cast 
her  pale  light  on  the  fair  beauty  of  this  valley 
and  soften  and  at  the  same  time  brighten  the 
delicate  touches  of  shade  and  outline  that  I 
may  touch  the  majestic  tenderness  of  her 
smile;  yea,  that  the  charm  of  her  modest  eyes 
may  steal  softly  into  my  soul,  for  how  can  I 
stand  with  the  already  full  burst  of  beauty 
upon  my  riven  heart?  Let  the  stars  shade  it 
still  more;  ah,  may  the  dim  colors  of  the  light 


74 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


fringe  it  that  it  may  lead  me  unconsumed  into 
the  Beulah  land  of  supreme  ecstasy.  My  soul 
is  ravished  by  one  of  thine  eyes,  O  thou  fair¬ 
est  among  daughters.  Hark!  Is  it  true? 
Hark!  Has  it  come  to  pass?  Can  my  ears 
mock  me?  Cruel  prick  of  earth’s  hard  sting 
to  startle  me  out  of  the  rapture  of  my  dream 
as  though  it  were  a  sin  to  have  the  joy  of  a 
rich  vision!” 

On  the  wings  of  the  winds  from  over  the 
city  the  sound  of  trumpets  and  the  shouts  of 
an  excited  uproar  are  carried  to  the  dark  cleft 
of  the  twisting  gloomy  rock  which  Solomon 
had  sought  out.  The  voice  that  came  up  to 
the  prince  was  one:  “Up  prince,  up  Prince — 
up  to  the  palace!”  His  ear  could  catch  noth¬ 
ing  further.  But  Solomon  shouts  in  his  own 
ears:  “Has  Adonijah  taken  the  throne?  How 
the  people  sound  his  praise.” 

A  prince  alone  without  a  single  escort  with 
apprehension  and  dread  on  every  side  marks 
every  foot  of  his  way  with  diligent  care — 
feeling  and  creeping  by  the  long  shadows  of 
the  rocks,  seeking  the  protection  of  the  outer 
wall  even  to  the  gate  of  Benjamin.  Heart 
beating  fast  with  anxiety  he  comes  to  where 
he  must  appear  in  the  open.  The  watchman 
cries — “Prince  Solomon,  art  thou  come?” 


THE  PALACE 


75 


At  which  shout  a  host  breaks  forth  from  out 
the  gate  near  him.  Momentarily  he  loses  the 
grip  on  self-mastery.  The  words  of  the  cap¬ 
tain  of  the  host  soon  allay  every  suspicion  and 
fear. 

“Noble  Prince,  we  have  searched  for  thee 
throughout  the  city,  fearful  lest  some  evil  had 
befallen  thee.  My  lord  the  king  thy  father 
has  great  concern  because  of  thee.  Though 
in  the  care  of  the  fair  Shunammite  he  has 
great  need  of  thee.  This  day  the  Shunammite 
has  been  the  talk  of  the  city  till  it  was  discov¬ 
ered  that  thou  hadst  been  absent  even  from  the 
early  morn  and  no  man  knew  whither  thou 
hadst  gone.  The  fair  Abishag  has  captured 
the  heart  of  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoida. 
Aaron  of  Ramah  too  has  changed  his  mind  in 
regard  to  this  fair  maiden.  He  visited  thy 
father  an  hour  ago  and  pronounced  her  a 
splendid  choice.  “In  fact,  no  better  could  be 
made,”  said  he,  “even  if  the  bounds  of  Egypt 
and  Assyria  should  be  searched;  yea,  even  the 
far  region  of  Ophir  could  not  produce  more 
abundant  and  prolific  expression  of  the  ele¬ 
gance  of  beauty  than  is  perfected  in  the  charm 
of  this  rustic  maiden  of  Shunem.” 

Solomon  lifts  his  hand,  saying,  “Not  'of 
Shunem’  but  of  Shulam  where  the  pomegran- 


7 6  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

ate  flowers  and  the  vine  buds.” 

“Well  spoken,  Prince,  the  beauty  of  the  vir¬ 
gin  is  native  to  the  fairness  of  those  gardens. 
She  has  the  fragrance  of  the  orchard  upon  her 
as  well  as  the  grace  and  elegance  of  the  palm- 
tree — the  rich  ripe  fruit  of  the  date  is  the 
product  of  her  life.” 

Midst  the  flood  of  feeling  the  prince  was  at 
a  loss  to  know  what  to  say. 

“It  is  well,  O  captain,  to  think  on  those 
things  but  not  to  speak  too  freely.” 

The  shadows  are  lengthening,  and  the  tow¬ 
ers  of  the  vineyards  are  half-concealing  the 
flowering  and  fructifying  life  in  longer  and 
roader  shadows.  The  pale  moon  is  seen  in 
the  east  while  the  fiery  red  sun  is  about  to  sink 
into  the  seething  mists  of  the  sea.  The  door 
of  the  king’s  chamber  opens  to  announce  the 
arrival  of  Solomon.  As  he  enters  he  beholds 
the  fair  Shunammite  in  the  bosom  of  his 
father,  the  aged  king  with  eyes  closed  seems 
not  to  have  heard  the  announced  coming  of 
his  son.  It  were  as  though  death  had  set  it¬ 
self  upon  him  so  that  the  warmth  of  the  fair 
nurse  is  not  able  to  revive  him.  How  well  is 
he  wrapt,  and  how  tender  is  her  care  for  the 
passing  David,  Solomon  can  well  observe.  At 
the  side  of  the  king  he  speaks  softly  in  a  voice 


i 


THE  PALACE 


77 


of  tenderness  and  of  filial  affection. 

“My  father,  thy  son  Solomon  is  come.” 

At  this  the  king  starts  up  and  opens  his 
great  eyes  so  often  filled  with  tenderness  and 
strength  but  now  full  of  pity  and  sadness.  Tie 
speaks  in  almost  breathless  whispers.  His  lips 
move  slowly  and  feebly.  His  head  is  held  erect 
with  difficulty  as  Solomon  softly  places  his 
hand  as  a  rest  for  it  and  the  fair  nurse  hastens 
to  give  him  a  few  drops  of  the  best  of  wine. 

“My  son,  I  longed  for  thee.  I  verily  thought 
that  David  was  doomed  to  die  without  a  single 
one  of  his  sons  to  cherish  him.  A  death  un¬ 
like  that  of  Saul  who  fell  in  battle  in  his 
fighting  armor  with  three  of  his  sons — a 
worthy  death  for  such  a  stately  king  had  it 
not  been  from  his  own  hand.  Wander  not  far 
from  the  palace  as  my  days  few  and  full  of 
trouble  are  flying  away  like  dust — they  will 
soon  be  gone.  I  can  not  speak  further.  My 
breath  is  well-nigh  spent.  Stay  and  watch 
with  this  fair  virgin,  for  thou  art  the  son  of  my 
years;  thou  art  the  comfort  of  these  days  of 
lengthening  shadows.  May  these  shadows 
swallow  up  the  troubles  and  sins  of  the  house 
of  David  that  even  my  bleeding  and  aching 
heart  may  have  a  respite.  May  God  spare 
David  his  servant  from  further  pain  as  his 


78  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

days  close  out.  Surely  is  it  not  enough?” 

Thus  saying  he  sinks  back  and  gasps  for 
breath.  Solomon  quickly  ministers  to  him, 
speaking  reverently  with  the  mellowness  of 
a  melting  heart. 

“Father,  remember  thy  reliance  upon  Jeho¬ 
vah  thy  God  and  the  plea  for  the  tender  mer¬ 
cies  of  the  Lord 

‘The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a  broken  spirit: 
A  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  thou 
wilt  not  despise.’  ” 

Thereupon  the  king  opens  his  eyes  again, 
and  looks  with  an  inspired  tenderness  upon 
his  son.  He  speaks  now  even  with  a  sprightly 
countenance  and  a  decisive  voice. 

“Surely  God  is  good  to  Israel, 

Even  to  such  as  are  pure  in  heart. 

When  I  kept  silence,  my  bones  wasted  away 
Through  my  groaning  all  the  day  long. 
Blessed  is  the  man  whose  transgression  is  for¬ 
given, 

Whose  sin  is  covered. 


Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul; - 

Who  forgiveth  all  thine  iniquities.” 


THE  PALACE 


79 


Then  was  Solomon  encouraged  to  speak  to 
his  father  further  even  saying, 

“My  father,  let  this  fair  virgin  sing  the 
Shepherd’s  Psalm  for  thee,  as  she  loves  to  sing 
of  the  shepherds  of  Shulam  and  of  their  flocks 
that  feed  in  the  green  pastures.  Her  voice  is 
sweeter  by  far  than  the  ringing  melodies  of 
the  songsters  among  the  boughs  of  the  trees 
of  the  orchards  of  Shulam.  Her  modesty  ex¬ 
cels  that  of  the  turtle-dove  in  the  midst  of  the 
flowering  pomegranate  tree.  The  magic  of  her 
manner  and  the  music  of  her  lips  will  revive 
the  youthful  glow  within  thee.” 

As  she  sings  in  soothing  strains  of  loveliness 
and  tenderness,  her  words  put  healing  into  the 
wounds  of  the  suffering  heart  of  David — a 
very  balm  of  Gilead.  The  conquest  over  mel¬ 
ancholy  droopings  is  complete  as  the  face  of 
the  king  lights  up  with  a  fresh  glow  of  youth¬ 
ful  vigor  as  he  joins  her  in  the  last  strain  of 
that  psalm  that  was  hidden  in  the  most  sacred 
deeps  of  his  heart  and  was  always  most  dear 
to  him: 

“And  I  shall  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord 
forever.” 

A  deep  sense  of  the  presence  of  the  Lord  is 


8o 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


all  about  him  as  the  sweet  voice  of  the  singer 
dies  softly  away  in  silence  to  receive  the  em¬ 
phatic  and  powerful  interpretation  that  con¬ 
templation  alone  can  put  upon  it.  With  the 
king  musing  upon  the  great  thoughts  that  fill 
his  soul  like  the  overwhelming  floods  the 
streams  of  the  valley — even  as  the  floods  of 
the  mountains  rushing  down  to  make  the  roar¬ 
ing  torrents.  Solomon  withdraws  into  the 
darkness  of  the  night.  The  darkness  of  night’s 
sable  shades  is  to  paint  the  scene  more  vividly 
before  his  impassioned  mind.  The  spell  of 
her  voice  is  upon  him.  The  deep  rich  in¬ 
cense-laden  air  from  every  direction  speaks 
in  delicate  accents  of  her  voice — even  singing 
the  soft  melodies  of  the  strains  which  are 
lingering  in  his  mind  in  more  exquisite  and 
unutterable  music. 

The  Coming  of  Joab 

But,  lo,  there  breaks  in  upon  him  a  clamor 
from  the  direction  of  the  fountain  gate.  He 
halts  and  listens.  He  hears  the  shouts  rising 
above  the  towers  of  the  city:  “Welcome  to 
Joab  and  Adonijah.  Welcome,  O  Captain  and 
Prince.  We  rejoice  that  thou  hast  scourged 
those  vile  curs  of  Amalek.  So  may  all  the 


THE  PALACE 


8 1 


enemies  of  the  Lord  and  of  His  chosen  be 
brought  under  the  chastening  rod  of  David 
and  his  captain.” 

Solomon  hastens  to  the  house  of  Benaiah  the 
son  of  Jehoiada,  and  finds  that  captain  of 
David’s  guards  chafing  and  feverish  under 
this  hilarious  shout  of  the  people.  With  husky 
voice  and  sharp  words  he  thunders  forth: 

“All  this  is  uncalled  for.  There  is  no  occa¬ 
sion  for  it  at  all.  It  is  only  a  hysterical  out¬ 
burst  of  popular  whims.  But  it  will  work 
much  harm  to  David’s  house.  So  are  things 
tending  now-a-days.  The  crafty  Joab  courts 
popular  favor  and  turns  every  little  deed  of 
his  in  that  direction.  What  is  the  chastening 
of  a  few  bands  of  outlaws  and  robbers  to  make 
such  an  uproar?  It  is  just  like  Joab  and  his 
sensational  firing  of  the  people.  He  has  gath¬ 
ered  but  leaves  for  the  burning  and  has  no 
wood  provided  for  the  fire.  Let  him  burn 
himself  to  ashes  in  the  flare  of  the  first  flame. 
So  will  the  house  of  David  be  established  in 
the  hands  of  Solomon.” 

“In  the  hands  of  Solomon?”  cries  Nathan 
the  prophet  as  he  enters,  “but  how  can  Solo¬ 
mon  be  established  with  Joab  hawking  up  all 
manner  of  praises  for  Adonijah  and  himself? 
The  voice  of  that  bloody,  cruel  man  must  be 


82 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


silenced  ere  Solomon  the  peaceful  shall  be 
established  in  his  rule  according  to  the  desire 

t 

of  his  heart.” 

“Ah,  noble  Nathan,  thou  speakest  fiery 
words,”  ventured  Solomon,  “but  we  dare  not 
bring  another  revolution  in  the  declining  days 
of  my  grand  old  father.  I  have  just  come  from 
his  presence  and  heard  him  say  in  tones  deeply 
colored  with  sadness  that  he  hoped  to  end  his 
few  remaining  days  without  any  more  heart¬ 
breaking  troubles  to  disrupt  his  house.  We 
must  deal  patiently  with  this  cruel  heartless 
man  for  the  sake  of  the  peace  of  my  father.” 

“Thou  speakest  wisely,”  replied  Nathan, 
“peace  is  vital  to  the  life  of  thy  father  at  this 
moment.  I  will  counsel  with  thy  mother 
Bath-sheba  to-morrow  and  have  her  go  in  be¬ 
fore  the  king  and  remind  him  of  the  pledges 
he  made  her  concerning  thee  and  the  king¬ 
dom.  I  will  charge  her  not  to  permit  the  least 
suspicion  that  there  are  storm  clouds  of  trou¬ 
ble  about  to  break  over  the  king’s  house.  Is 
the  thing  not  good  in  thine  eyes,  Prince  Solo¬ 
mon?” 

“The  thing  is  good.  Let  it  be  pressed  as  far 
as  expediency  allows,  most  noble  Nathan. 
Then  turning  to  Benaiah  the  prince  addressed 
the  captain  of  the  guard  of  David,  saying, 


THE  PALACE 


83 


“Brave  captain,  we  repose  great  confidence  in 
thy  skill  and  ability,  as  well  as  thy  courage 
and  honor  to  defend  the  house  of  David.” 

Then  the  three  facing  each  other  bow  down 
to  the  earth,  and  remain  in  silence  for  a  short 
while.  Solomon  raises  himself  up  while  the 
two  remain  motionless  for  a  short  interval. 
Then  lifting  themselves  they  exclaim:  “The 
Lord  anoint  the  shield  of  the  house  of  David.” 
Falling  down  again  with  their  faces  to  the 
earth,  they  lift  up  their  voices  and  cry  out — 
“May  David  live  forever.”  Then  lifting 
themselves  erect  and  facing  the  prince  they 
speak  with  one  voice:  “May  the  Lord  estab¬ 
lish  the  throne  of  David  in  the  hand  of  his 
son  Solomon,  and  may  the  throne  of  Solomon 
be  even  greater  than  that  of  his  father  David.” 

Then  the  prince  throwing  back  his  waving 
hair  over  his  shoulders  falls  upon  the  neck  of 
Nathan,  embracing  and  kissing  him.  In  like 
manner  he  falls  upon  the  neck  of  Benaiah 
even  shedding  tears  as  with  difficulty  he  speaks 
to  express  his  gratitude: — “My  brother,  thou 
art  strong,  brave  and  good.  What  have  I  to 
fear  when  I  have  such  a  counselor  as  Nathan 
and  such  a  captain  as  Benaiah  the  son  of  Je- 
hoiada,  a  man  priestly  born  but  with  muscles 
and  strength  like  unto  Samson,  and  with  a 


84 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


heart  like  unto  Moses  the  matchless  warrior 
and  leader.  Thanks  be  to  Jehovah  the  God  of 
our  fathers  who  giveth  to  a  prince  men  like 
unto  these  to  lift  him  to  a  throne.” 

Solomon  having  made  an  end  of  speaking 
took  his  departure  to  go  unto  his  harem. 


SOLOMON  IN  HIS  HAREM 


AS  the  prince  departs  for  his  harem  there 
is  an  unbroken  stillness  on  the  air.  The 
pale  stars  peep  out  of  the  silence — even 
so  deeply  wrapt  in  quietness  that  they  whisper 
distinctly  and  clearly, — “Most  favored  prince, 
thy  way  is  clear  though  thy  quest  be  to  the 
dimmest  border  of  thy  pale  light  even  as  thou 
hast  it  from  us.”  As  he  thinks  thereon  his 
faith  somehow  begins  to  fail  him  just  as  a 
child  walking  the  edge  of  a  narrow  declivity 
which  he  can  do  with  perfect  safety  as  long 
as  he  can  confidently  trust  his  steps  but  if 
he  doubts  every  step  is  taken  with  trembling 
uneasiness.  “Such  is  the  language  of  the  stars 
— all  so  far  above  me — and  my  one  consuming 
question:  Is  my  way  clear  to  the  affections  of 
the  heart  of  one  maiden  who  has  captured  my 
eyes  and  brought  my  soul  into  complete  sub¬ 
jection?  What  if  the  throne  of  David  was  in 
the  hand  of  Solomon  without  her  would  not 
the  lustre  thereof  be  pale?  Would  it  not  fade 
out  as  the  light  from  the  eyes  deprived  of 

«  85 


86 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


sight?  O  thou  fairest  among  the  daughters, 
what  are  queens  and  concubines  compared  to 
thee?” 

He  moves  on  mid  the  pale  light  of  the  stars 
as  though  he  felt  her  love  receding  like  the 
glimmer  of  the  thin  pale  light  of  the  far  dis¬ 
tant  one  that  twinkled  in  the  limitless  unde¬ 
fined  zone.  He  gasps — but,  lo,  his  thoughts 
are  left  floating  in  emptiness.  Unconsciously 
he  lifts  the  latch  of  the  door  to  the  apartment 
of  the  fairest  of  his  harem.  He  seats  himself 
at  the  side  of  the  most  goodly  lady  of  his 
house.  His  eyes  are  not  fixed  upon  her  beau¬ 
tiful  face,  his  soul  is  not  lost  among  the  well- 
arranged  tresses  (for  long  had  she  waited  the 
coming  of  her  husband  which  was  to  be  early 
in  the  day) ,  but  into  the  emptiness  of  space  his 
eyes  peer  as  though  straining  to  catch  the 
sight  of  some  vision  that  only  left  a  dim  fringe 
to  lure  his  restless  soul.  He  can  see  naught 
but  the  fringe  and  he  must  keep  busy  to  keep 
up  with  it. 

“My  lord,  why  wilt  thou  but  stare  and  not 
speak?  Have  I  not  adjusted  my  tresses  as 
daintily  as  I  should  for  thee?  Have  I  not 
used  sufficient  ointment?  Is  not  the  fragrance 
of  the  myrrh  abundant?  I  did  not  spare  the 
spikenard.  Speak,  my  lord,  if  I  have  failed 


SOLOMON  TN  HTS  HAREM  87 

in  a  single  thing  in  making  up  my  attire? 

“Thou  hast  left  nothing  undone,  my  daugh¬ 
ter,  my  bride.  Thou  hast  been  careful  to  ar¬ 
ray  thyself  delicately  and  daintily.  Theie  is 
not  a  flaw  in  the  adornment,  but - ” 

“But  what,  my  lord,  thou  wouldst  not  say 
my  beauty  is  passing  already?  It  used  to  be 
that  thou  didst  take  pride  in  me.  Thou  didst 
call  me  the  darling  of  thine  heart,  the  choice 
of  thy  harem.  Hast  thine  eye  fallen  upon 
another?  Am  I  displaced  so  soon  from  the 
queenly  station?  Ah,  I  see  now  (as  Solomon 
turns  his  eyes  toward  the  palace)  that  rustic 
maiden  of  Shulam!” 

The  eyes  of  the  prince  brighten  and  his 
countenance  changes. 

“The  thing  is  true,”  continues  the  mistress 
of  the  harem,  “it  is  the  rustic  maiden  that  has 
come  to  the  court  of  David.  I  am  a  daughter 
of  a  king,  but  yet  this  country  maid,  this  child 
of  the  fields  usurps  my  place.  How  long  wilt 
thou  suffer  thine  heart  to  be  taken  from 
queens,  even  kings’  daughters,  and  given  to  the 
offsprings  of  slaves  of  the  fields?  Turn  to  my 
heart,  my  lord,  remember  the  queenly  Bath- 

sheba  thy  mother.” 

“Woman,  I  remember  my  mother,  bhe  too 
was  a  plain  country  maid  while  Maacah  the 


88 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


mother  of  Absalom  was  the  daughter  of  a 
king.  Think  well,  woman,  ere  thou  speakest 
to  a  man.” 

She  falls  in  convulsive  sobs  upon  the  cush¬ 
ions  of  the  well  perfumed  couch,  while  Solo¬ 
mon  stands  musing  at  her  side.  He  stoops  to 
lift  her  as  he  hears  her  whisper, — “Hast  thy 
love  utterly  departed  from  me?  Dost  not 
even  one  spark  remain  to  kindle  the  light  of 
my  spirit?” 

At  such  pleading  the  heart  of  Solomon  is 
melted  down.  He  can  withstand  no  longer. 

“My  love  for  thee  is  above  that  for  many 
daughters,  my  queen,  my  wife.  I  have  been 
over  harsh  in  my  words.  So  is  a  man  when 
seized  by  an  overmastering  passion.  Be  of 
good  cheer,  my  love  is  still  warm  for  thee.” 

“My  lord,  forgive  the  unguarded  cruel 
words  spoken  by  thine  hand-maid.  A  woman 
can  not  stand  another  to  displace  her.  She  is 
apt  to  call  such  a  one  base  born.  I  was  thought¬ 
lessly  indiscreet.  So  is  a  woman  when  she 
loves.” 

Soon  they  are  at  rest  in  the  arms  of  each 
other  as  the  silent  stars  glide  over  them  and 
the  sleeping  city  awaits  the  scarlet  tinge  of  the 
dawn. 


THE  COUNCIL  AT  THE  HOUSE  OF 

JOAB 

IN  that  same  hour  as  Solomon  falls  asleep 
in  the  arms  of  the  loveliest  of  his  wives, 
there  is  quite  a  different  scene  taking  place 
at  the  house  of  the  bluff  Joab  who  hangs 
his  great  shield  with  buckler  and  cuirass  along 
with  his  trusty  sword  at  the  rough  unfinished 
walls  of  his  house  whereon  hang  many  a  rusty 
sword  taken  in  battle,  and  shall  we  say  images 
of  skulls?  Well  might  it  be  so — but  who  is 
the  bloody  Joab  to  content  himself  with  imi¬ 
tations — even  of  skulls?  Would  it  not  fill  his 
eye  with  pride  to  look  upon  the  parched  bones 
of  enemies  brought  down  in  battle?  If  he 
had  a  heart  of  pity,  thorough-going  policy 
never  permitted  it  to  be  bared.  It  must  be 
kept  under  the  sinews  of  relentless  daring. 
Joab  plows  through  hearts  as  the  matter  of 
fact  plowman  tears  through  the  tender  roots 
of  the  mellow  ground  with  his  share. 

“Be  seated,  noble  Adonijah,  we  must  not 
have  too  many  whims  and  deal  too  tenderly 

89 


9o 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


in  this  matter.  I  am  aware  that  David  is  old 
and  very  feeble,  but  this  is  the  very  reason 
why  we  must  act  promptly  and  decisively.  If 
he  dies — what  then?  We  must  walk  over 
hearts  and  feelings  at  this  crisis.  Win  the 
people  we  must  at  any  cost.” 

“What  is  thy  plan,  most  venerable  captain? 
I  am  here  to  act  as  thou  wilt  direct.  Here 
comes  Abiathar  whose  hand  was  always  with 
David.  Let  him  note  the  plan  and  be  our 
intercessor  before  David,  for  my  father  will 
not  deny  him.” 

“What  sayest  thou,  Adonijah?  David  must 
know  nothing  of  this.  Knowest  thou  not  that 
the  spell  of  Bathsheba’s  eyes  will  utterly  de¬ 
feat  any  plan  Abiathar  or  any  other  might  put 
before  the  doting  old  king?  No,  this  thing 
must  be  done  by  the  hand  and  heart  that  put 
Abner  out  of  the  way.  It  is  not  enough, 
Adonijah,  to  have  chariots  and  horsemen  and 
fifty  men  to  run  before  them,  thou  dost  surely 
show  thyself  to  advantage  before  the  people 
being  of  such  goodly  stature,  but  a  feast  must 
speedily  be  prepared  in  thy  name — a  very 
coronation  feast,  at  which  no  single  represen¬ 
tative  of  the  tribes  here  at  Jerusalem  must  be 
forgotten;  ah,  those  men  who  have  messages 
from  their  respective  tribes  to  David  must 


COUNCIL  AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  JOAB  9 1 


have  the  foremost  seats  at  the  feast  of  Adoni- 
jah.  Is  not  the  plan  good,  most  noble  Abi- 

athar?” 

“Most  worthy  captain,  thou  art  famed  for 
the  shrewdness  of  thy  counsel  even  as  thou  art 
known  for  thy  hardihood  and  bravery  in  bat¬ 
tle.  The  thing  has  come  from  thy  lips  and  it 
seems  good.  It  will  secretly  cut  away  the 
foundations  from  under  the  feet  of  the  over- 
nice  Solomon  who  has  allowed  his  wit  and  pre¬ 
tensions  at  knowledge  to  run  away  with  him. 
He  carries  himself  loftily  beneath  the  shadow 
of  Bathsheba.  Day  after  day  he  is  to  be  seen 
about  the  chamber  of  the  old  king,  seeking  to 
engrace  himself  deeply  in  the  affections  of  his 
declining  father.  He  will  not  play  the  man 
as  thou  art,  most  noble  prince.  He  will  not 
move  with  the  people.  Let  me  suggest  the 

place  of  the  feast,  for - ” 

“Hesitate  not  to  name  the  place,  holy  priest. 
Thereby  thou  shalt  place  thy  seal  upon  it  and 
make  it  legal  in  the  eye  of  all  Isiael. 

“I  will,  therefore,  name  ‘En-rogel,’  the  full¬ 
er’s  fountain,  for  there  will  be  need  of  much 
water  for  the  washing  away  of  the  blood  and 
for  the  cleansing  of  the  slaughtered  sheep  and 
oxen.  I  will  see  that  all  is  done  in  strict  ac 
cordance  with  the  law.  It  shall  be  a  feast  that 


92 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


shall  fail  in  no  point  whatever— but  in  every 
way  shall  be  a  credit  to  Adonijah  and  his 
friends.” 

As  he  thus  spoke,  the  venerable  priest  bowed 
himself  before  the  prince,  while  the  hoary 
headed  Joab  stood  with  more  than  usual  erect¬ 
ness  as  though  he  said — I  will  make  this  man 
king ;  let  him  bow  to  Joab.  The  stalwart  blunt 
captain  spoke  with  words  of  commanding 
pressure. 

“Butler  (so  addressing  the  butler  of  his  own 
house)  see  to  it  that  the  goodliest  animals  are 
brought  to  En-rogel.  Spare  not  but  only  see 
that  the  best  are  got  for  the  feast.  Let  there 
be  no  lack  in  obeying  the  orders  as  Joab  has 
given  them.  Who  dares  to  be  careless  to  the 
neglect  of  the  smallest  detail?  If  there  be 
such  a  one  even  though  he  himself  were  a 
prince  let  him  know  well  that  Joab  would 
spill  his  blood  as  he  did  that  of  Abner  the  son 
of  Ner,  and  Amasa  the  son  of  J ether.  By  the 
bulls  of  Bashan  all  know  that  Joab  delights 
to  see  the  very  streams  run  crimson  with  the 
blood  of  his  enemies.  So  let  the  feast  be  made 
ready.” 

So  having  made  an  end  of  his  speech  with 
a  nod  of  the  head  throwing  his  great  grey 
locks  about  his  shoulders  he  withdraws  and  the 


COUNCIL  AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  JOAB  93 


conference  is  brought  to  an  end.  The  city 
sleeps  while  the  sombre  forces  are  fomenting 
in  the  house  of  David;  and  too,  David  the 
king  sleeps  lightly  but  quietly  in  the  bosom  of 
the  fair  Shunammite. 

So  have  we  glimpses  of  two  pictures  of  that 
dark  night  as  the  frail  old  king  awaits  his  end. 


/ 


SOLOMON  VISITS  BATHSHEBA 


HE  morning  is  fair  as  the  chambermaid 


JL  of  Queen  Bathsheba  announces  the  pres¬ 
ence  of  Solomon  in  her  apartments.  He  has 
come  in  haste  to  the  palace  of  the  Queen.  She 
adjusts  her  apparel  quickly  and  hurries  to 
meet  him. 

“Is  it  well  with  thee,  Solomon?” 

“Mother,  may  the  Lord  grant  that  all  is 
well  with  thy  son  though  all  is  wrapped  in 
perplexing  mysteries  before  his  face  this  day. 
I  wish  to  propound  a  dream  to  thee  that  came 
to  me  in  such  a  strange  manner  some  time  ago 
at  Hebron.  I  saw  Absalom  with  his  great  suit 
of  hair  falling  over  his  shoulders — reaching 
even  to  his  thighs,  fall  on  the  neck  of  Amasa 
— embrace  and  kiss  him.  At  that  moment  the 
image  of  Amasa  became  like  unto  that  of  the 
gray  haired,  uncouth  Joab.  When  I  awoke 
I  found  Adonijah  absent  from  his  couch  (for 
he  was  sleeping  in  the  same  apartment  with 
me).  Mother,  all  this  has  filled  my  mind 
with  troubled  thoughts,  and  my  soul  with 


94 


SOLOMON  VISITS  BATHSHEBA  95 


great  uneasiness ;  especially  since  I  heard  Joab 
and  Adonijah  praised  so  loudly  by  the  people 
upon  their  arrival  last  night.  Is  not  the  dream 
full  of  evil  for  our  house?” 

“These  are  dark  days  for  the  house  of  David 
— dark,  uncertain  days  for  the  house  of  the 
son  of  Bathsheba.  When  my  lord  the  king 
thy  father  was  in  the  flush  of  life  he  made  me 
many  and  fair  promises  though  the  hand  of 
Joab  prevailed  mightily  against  the  plans  and 
designs  of  the  king — but,  notwithstanding  all 
this,  I  say  that  he  the  king  promised  that  even 
my  son  should  succeed  him  on  the  throne,  and 
this  he  did  to  comfort  me  because  of  the  death 
of  my  first  born.  Yet  the  stout  hand  of  Joab 
has  been  too  much  for  him  and  the  thing  has 
been  let  drift  even  until  now  when  the  king’s 
life  is  hanging  on  a  mere  thread.  Even  when 
he  first  swear  to  me,  saying,  ‘Assuredly  Solo¬ 
mon  thy  son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he  shall 
sit  upon  my  throne’  even  then  did  I  urge  him 
to  rid  himself  of  the  detested  Joab.  I  pointed 
him  to  Benaiah,  saying,  ‘There  thou  hast  a 
man,  my  lord,  O  king,  in  whom  reliance  can 
be  placed.  True,  he  is  a  younger  man  but  he 
is  also  less  assuming  and  equally  brave  as  the 
gruff  Joab. 

“  ‘Remember,  O  king,’  I  said,  ‘how  that 


96 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


sneaking  lion  did  creep  up  from  the  warm 
plains  of  Jericho  and  hide  among  the  rocks 
and  cisterns  of  Judea,  and  even  while  lurking 
mid  scrub-thickets  here,  was  caught  in  a  snow¬ 
storm,  and  that  the  roaring  surprised  brute 
sought  shelter  in  one  of  the  pits.  The  thing  is 
known  throughout  all  Judea  and  fear  was 
upon  every  man  till  Benaiah  that  strong  young 
man  of  the  hills  went  down  and  slew  the  savage 
beast,  though  it  roared  angrily  against  him. 
Then  didst  thou  make  him  a  captain.  Why 
should  he  not  be  the  captain  of  David’s  armies 
altogether?’  The  king  was  pleased  with  my 
suggestion  and  said  it  would  be  well  to  check 
the  unbridled  ambition  of  the  mad  son  of 
Zeruiah. 

“But,  Solomon,  thou  seeth  how  matters 
stand — as  uncertain  as  the  winds  that  meet  to 
change  on  the  heights  of  Judea.  Neverthe¬ 
less,  I  shall  go  before  the  king  and  remind 
him  of  his  pledges  and  urge  him  to  fulfill  them 
at  once.” 

“Mother,  counsel  with  Nathan  before  go¬ 
ing  in  to  lay  the  matter  before  my  father.  I 
must  hasten  and  put  my  house  in  order  as 
things  are  very  acute  at  this  moment.” 

Scarcely  has  Solomon  left  the  apartments 
of  Bathsheba  when  a  great  clamor  of  a  multi- 


SOLOMON  VISITS  BATHSHEBA  97 


tude  of  voices  breaks  in  upon  him.  It  is  from 
En-rogel.  He  advances  a  few  steps  further 
when  he  meets  the  prophet  Nathan  in  great 
haste.  The  prince  takes  hold  of  Nathan’s 
long  robe  to  stay  him. 

“Delay  me  not — matters  have  come  to  a 
very  acute  stage.  The  waters  of  treachery 
are  breaking  over  to  wreck  and  ruin  thy  house 
and  mine.  Hear  them  proclaiming  Adonijah 
king?  The  thing  is  being  done  at  En-rogel, 
and  Abiathar  the  priest  is  there  giving  sanc¬ 
tion  to  all — even  anointing  Adonijah  king 
over  Israel.  Thy  mother  must  go  to  the  king 
at  once.” 

Loud  acclamations,  re-echoing  along  the 
rocks,  make  the  city  ring.  The  volume  of  the 
multitude  of  voices  increases  in  intensity  as  it 
rolls  up  from  the  deep  valley  of  Kidron.  It 
is  forged  into  one  mighty  roar  as  it  rushes 
through  the  narrow  defiles  of  the  valley  and 
bounds  over  across  the  huge  bulwarks  and 
buttresses  of  the  city  of  David. 

Nathan  enters  the  apartment  of  Bathsheba 
scarcely  awaiting  permission.  As  the  blush 
of  the  morn  consumed  by  the  heated  waves  of 
the  desert  burst  in  the  door  to  meet  the  blush 
of  Bathsheba  consumed  by  the  feverish  heat 
of  anxiety,  a  thunderous  roar  of  a  babel  of 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


98 

loud  shouts  and  confused  clamor  rush  in  like¬ 
wise.  Leaving  Bathsheba  and  Nathan  facing 
each  other  keyed  to  the  highest  tension,  the 
scene  from  which  the  sound  comes  swallows 
up  all  else. 

Feast  of  En-rogel 

The  air  vibrates  in  undulating  waves  that 
heap  upon  some  souls  as  great  crushing  bil¬ 
lows  but  roll  over  others  leaving  the  wavelets 
to  frisk  and  play  in  the  mirthful  glee  of  the 
sunshine.  These  latter  are  hearts  at  En-rogel. 

Flow  shrewdly  have  the  noblemen  been  as¬ 
sembled  at  the  word  of  Joab.  They  peace¬ 
fully  and  orderly  pass  down  by  the  wall  of  the 
city  of  David  into  the  Kidron  valley  till  they 
come  to  En-rogel.  There  the  feast  is  being 
spread.  Neither  has  the  word  of  Joab  lacked 
aught  in  being  carried  out.  Ere  the  morning 
dawn — yet  under  the  sable  cover  of  the  night 
hands  are  busy  leading  sheep  and  oxen  to 
the  cleansing  fountain.  Here  in  the  gray  of 
the  dawn  the  venerable  priest  of  Jehovah 
stands  arrayed  in  his  official  robe  to  see  that 
the  knife  is  properly  plunged  and  that 
the  blood  is  thoroughly  taken  from  the  slain. 
“Nothing  must  dare  remain  in  its  blood,”  re¬ 
peats  Abiathar  over  and  over,  “for  verily  it 


SOLOMON  VISITS  BATITSHEBA  99 


will  bring  the  wrath  of  God  upon  the  feast  of 
Adonijah.”  As  the  stately  priest  strokes  his 
beard  to  his  entire  satisfaction  he  says,  “Each 
act  must  be  strictly  with  the  rites  of  the  law.” 
Hands  are  busy  carrying  out  his  heavy  orders. 
Some  actually  shirk,  but,  lo,  the  eagle  eye  of 
Abiathar  fixes  upon  them,  for  he  is  on  the 
lookout  for  just  such.  If  a  sharp  look  does 
not  stimulate  them  to  action,  a  harsh  word  with 
a  dreadful  threat  of  a  curse  from  his  priestly 
lips  will.  Order  and  precision  are  every¬ 
where  as  each  is  swift  to  his  task.  The  meat 
for  the  table  is  being  thoroughly  roasted  over 
well  kept  fires,  and  while  the  children  and 
small  boys  are  gathering  the  fuel  to  the  fires, 
the  priest  is  leading  the  assembled  guests  in 
loud  shouts  that  thunder  along  the  great  rocks 
and  roll  over  the  bulwarks  of  the  holy  city. 
This  is  the  voice  that  Nathan  caught,  and  the 
voice  is  but  one  in  the  ears  of  Nathan — “Long 
live  King  Adonijah.”  This  multitude  of  voice 
wreaths  itself  among  the  very  scrub-oaks  that 
struggle  from  the  naked,  deep  ridged  rock. 
Neither  can  the  goodly  morsels  of  meat  in 
which  the  juices  have  been  preserved  and 
heightened  in  flavor  by  thorough  roasting  stop 
their  mouths  from  this  rash  proclamation.  On 
the  other  hand  it  only  intensifies  it  and  lifts  it 


100 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


higher  over  the  persistently  stubborn,  frown¬ 
ing  cliffs  that  buttress  the  great  city  of  their 
feeble  king  whose  life  is  as  pale  as  a  burning 
candle  in  the  brightness  of  the  noonday.  As 
they  stand  about  the  feast  of  Adonijah  they 
forget  all  the  benefits  of  David,  and  see  none 
but  Adonijah  and  his  lavish  hand  in  prepar¬ 
ing  such  a  feast.  All  is  forgotten  and  lost  sight 
of  in  the  joy  of  the  present  moment.  But 
David  still  is  king. 


NATHAN  AND  BATHSHEBA 


THE  fact  that  David  still  lives  and  is  king 
explains  why  Nathan  and  Bathsheba  are 
face  to  face  in  her  apartment  this  morning. 
They  look  into  the  faces  of  each  other  with 
deep  apprehension.  But  such  suspense  must 
break  down  under  living  speech.  Though 
seemingly  Nathan  is  too  full  for  utterance  it 
falls  to  his  lot  to  broach  the  matter  which  each 
stands  in  dread  of. 

“Hast  thou  not  heard  that  Adonijah  the  son 
of  Haggith  doth  reign,  and  David  our  lord 
knoweth  it  not?” 

“What,  Adonijah  the  son  of  Haggith  doth 
reign?  The  thing  I  feared  is  true.  Did  not 
Solomon  smell  the  monster  vermin  stalking 
into  his  chamber  to  break  his  slumbers?  Did 
not  my  son  propound  the  dream  to  thee,  noble 

prophet?” 

“Solomon  did  not  warn  me,  neither  was  the 
thing  shown  me  of  the  Lord.  I,  though  a 
prophet,  have  looked  upon  the  bare  face  of 

the  fact.” 


IOI 


102 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Treason  has  no  respect  for  prophets  or 
princes,  noble  Nathan.” 

“Let  it  be  so,  yet  Nathan  must  anoint  Solo¬ 
mon  king  of  Israel  even  as  Samuel  the  prophet 
anointed  David.  The  thing  must  be  done  at 
this  very  hour  though  David  still  lives.” 

“But  David  is  feeble  and  the  news  of  war 
in  his  house  will  cause  him  to  sleep  with  his 
fathers.” 

“Thou  must  break  the  news  to  him,  Bath- 
sheha.  First  remind  him  of  the  promise  he 
made  unto  thee,  saying,  ‘Assuredly  Solomon 
thy  son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he  shall  sit 
upon  my  throne.’  Then  thou  shalt  say — ‘why 
then  doth  Adonijah  reign?’  Behold,  while 
thou  yet  talkest  there  with  the  king,  I  also  will 
come  in  after  thee  and  confirm  thy  words.” 

“Even  so  had  Solomon  and  I  planned.  The 
thing  is  good.  It  is  of  the  Lord.” 


I 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID 

SHE  then  beseeches  the  Lord  for  direction 
and  strength  with  eyes  slightly  lifted  to 
the  horizon  in  the  direction  of  the  rising  sun 
while  Nathan  stretching  forth  his  hands  in¬ 
vokes  the  blessing  of  Jehovah  upon  her  that 
He  may  be  mouth  and  wisdom  unto  her. 
Then  as  though  some  spirit  is  passing  by,  a 
sprightly  glaring  gleam  of  sunlight  enters  the 
open  window  and  glides  over  her  head  as  her 
face  is  steadfast  to  the  east.  All  is  caught  up 
into  inexpressible  language.  The  hand  of  the 
Lord  is  upon  Nathan  and  lifting  his  prophetic 
voice  breaks  the  silence. 

“God  will  establish  the  throne  of  David 
forever.  Kings  and  queens  from  the  utter¬ 
most  parts  of  the  earth  shall  lavish  tributes  at 
the  foot  of  the  throne  of  Solomon  his  son.” 

Again  their  lips  are  sealed  as  Bathsheba 
arises,  casts  about  herself  the  most  costly  robe 
of  her  royal  attire  and  hastens  to  the  court  of 
the  palace  of  King  David.  A  lone  songster 
hidden  away  in  the  thick  branches  of  a  bush- 

103 


104 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


tree  is  singing  as  though  trouble  and  anxiety 
had  never  been  known  in  the  world.  The 
light  heart  and  the  light  winged  words  of  the 
morning  renew  themselves  and  refresh  the 
earth  where  heavy  hearts  are  laboring  be¬ 
neath  their  burdens.  “Ah,”  sighs  Bathsheba, 
“blithe  songster,  thy  life  is  a  song — there  is 
no  knowledge.”  The  songster  pipes  on  as 
though  Bathsheba  had  never  sighed,  her  rich 
queenly  robes  fluttering  in  the  same  air  on  the 
wings  of  which  the  strains  of  the  careless  song 
are  borne  along.  Placing  her  feet  upon  the 
porch  of  the  king’s  house  of  cedar,  as  a  flash, 
awful  suggestions  of  dark  apprehensions  cross 
her  mind: 

“How  slippery  are  the  steps  to  ambition? 
how  cruel  are  the  thrusts  by  the  way?  how 
narrow  are  the  defiles  of  jealousy  through 
which  the  soul  must  be  rushed?” 

Then  catching  her  breath  and  breathing  in 
deep  confidence  the  life  and  spirit — “Jehovah 
lives.” 

The  door-keeper’s  voice  is  heard  announc¬ 
ing  the  arrival  of  the  Queen. 

“My  lord,  O  king,  it  is  Queen  Bathsheba.” 

“Bid  her  enter,”  is  the  summons  from  a 
weak  voice  from  within. 

Through  the  half-open  door  she  sees  the 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  105 


beautiful  Abishag  in  all  the  freshness  of  her 
youth  ministering  unto  the  withering  king. 
How  delicately  she  lays  bare  her  fair  arm  to 
support  the  feeble  head  of  the  king  while  ad¬ 
justing  the  pillow  with  the  other  hand.  How 
tenderly  she  holds  the  wine-cup  to  his  lips 
from  which  all  color  has  gone,  and  bloodless, 
pale,  quivering  can  scarcely  receive  the  sil¬ 
ver  cup  though  firmly  held  by  the  gentle  hand 
of  the  maiden  whose  youthful  heart  is  beat¬ 
ing  in  full  sympathy.  Motherly  watchful¬ 
ness  meets  in  the  glowing  warmth  and  charm 
of  the  innocence  of  youth  in  this  fair  nurse  of 
the  aged  king.  Even  Bathsheba  herself  cannot 
help  but  exclaim  as  she  spies  her  thus  so  pa¬ 
tiently,  so  womanly,  yet  so  full  of  every  charm 
of  youth,  ministering  to  the  king:  “She  is  alto¬ 
gether  lovely.  The  best  of  nature  and  the 
highest  of  the  spirit  vie  for  the  proudest  place 
in  her.  How  they  all  shine  out  most  elegantly. 
They  seem  to  embrace  and  kiss  each  other  as 
they  recognize  and  admire  the  noble  striving 
of  each  other — the  one  grace  heightening  the 
other.  It  is  the  meeting  of  body  and  soul  to 
minister  to  a  great  need.  In  what  loveliness 
does  her  life  renew  that  of  the  king.  She  holds 
back  nothing  but  pours  her  life  unstintingly 
into  his  bosom.” 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


io  6 

“Why  doth  Bathsheba  tarry?”  spake  David 
with  a  firm  voice. 

“It  did  not  seem  well  to  disturb  thee,  O 
king,  as  the  Shulammite  ministered  unto  thee. 
Could  Bathsheba  be  careless  of  the  health  of 
my  lord  the  king?” 

“Thou  speakest  nobly,  my  beloved  Bath¬ 
sheba.  Always  welcome  art  thou,  my  queen.” 

Thereupon  Bathsheba  did  obeisance  to  the 
king.  The  countenance  of  her  lord  was  trou¬ 
bled  as  he  looked  into  her  face  where  the  crim¬ 
son  blush  of  youth  did  wake  but  could  not 
stay. 

“Why  is  thy  countenance  sad  this  day? 
Bathsheba,  I  will  requite  thy  love — even  all 
the  tenderness  of  thine  heart  for  David.” 

“Let  my  lord  king  David  live  forever,” 
spake  Bathsheba  in  gratitude  for  the  tender¬ 
ness  of  the  king  toward  her. 

“Tell  me  all  thy  heart,  Bathsheba.  What 
wouldst  thou?”  At  this  David  fixed  his  gaze 
upon  her  as  though  he  would  search  out  with 
his  own  eye  what  was  hidden  in  the  depths  of 
the  heart  of  this  his  most  beloved  wife. 

Bathsheba  took  courage  and  threw  off  the 
restraint  of  fear  as  in  former  days  when  she 
dared  to  lift  up  her  voice  in  making  request 
of  the  king: 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  107 


“My  lord,  thou  swearest  by  Jehovah  thy 
God  unto  thy  handmaid,  saying,  Assuredly 
Solomon  thy  son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he 
shall  sit  upon  my  throne.  And  now,  behold, 
Adonijah  reigneth;  and  thou,  my  lord  the 
king,  knowest  it  not:  and  he  hath  slain  oxen 
and  fadings  and  sheep  in  abundance,  and  hath 
called  all  the  sons  of  the  king,  and  Abiathar 
the  priest,  and  Joab  the  captain  of  the  host: 
but  Solomon  thy  servant  hath  he  not  called.” 

“Joab  and  Adonijah  conspire  to  break  my 
frame?  Bring  down  my  gray  hairs  in  the  bit¬ 
terness  of  sorrow  to  the  grave?  Let  Sheol 
open  wide  to  receive  me  from  the  mocking 
taunting  Joab.  My  house  is  constantly  roar¬ 
ing  down  upon  me  with  perplexing  troubles.” 
The  king  bowed  his  head  in  excessive  grief 
and  hid  his  face  in  the  folds  of  his  great  man¬ 
tle — even  the  mantle  in  which  he  so  often 
folded  Bathsheba,  saying, 

“Assuredly  Solomon  thy  son  shall  reign 
after  me,  and  he  shall  sit  upon  my  throne.” 

“Be  this  thing  far  from  thee.  Let  not  this 
grief  overwhelm  thee.  Thou  art  the  king,  my 
lord.  The  eyes  of  all  Israel  are  upon  thee, 
that  thou  shouldest  tell  them  who  shall  sit  on 
the  throne  of  my  lord  the  king  after  him.” 
As  she  said  these  words  the  king’s  head  was 


io8 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


lifted  up  and  the  sparkle  returned  to  the  eye. 
David  realized  that  he  as  king  must  but  speak 
and  his  word  would  be  final.  Bathsheba  see¬ 
ing  this  expression  of  confidence  return  to  the 
king’s  face  continued: 

“Otherwise  it  will  come  to  pass,  when  my 
lord  the  king  shall  sleep  with  his  fathers,  that 
I  and  my  son  Solomon  shall  be  counted  offend¬ 
ers.” 

“Who  is  he  that  cometh  upon  the  porch 
with  heavy  step?  Let  him  tarry  without  who¬ 
ever  he  be  and  however  important  his  mes¬ 
sage.  I  must  counsel  and  comfort  Bathsheba. 
She  has  called  back  my  youth.  The  few  drops 
of  blood  of  the  veins  of  my  wasting  frame 
glow  with  the  fervor  of  my  warrior  days.  The 
fire  is  in  my  bones.  And - ” 

“It  is  Nathan — he  seeks  admission!”  This 
the  attendant  announced  in  a  rather  unsteady 
voice,  for  all  had  watched  the  nervous  excite¬ 
ment  of  the  king  with  great  alarm,  waiting  in 
suspense  for  him  to  make  an  end  of  his  ejacu¬ 
latory  expressions.  The  servant  having  unin¬ 
tentionally  interrupted  the  king’s  slow  speak¬ 
ing  Bathsheba  concealing  her  emotions  sought 
to  relieve  the  situation,  saying: 

“My  lord,  O  king,  bid  Nathan  enter  for 
surely  he  brings  to  thee  a  message  from  God. 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  109 


Such  messages  have  healing  in  them  for  the 
sore  heart  of  the  king,  and  who  can  tell 
whether  this  one  does  not  hold  the  balm  for 
all  the  wounds  of  Bathsheba  and  thus  relieve 
the  king  from  the  heat  of  his  fever.” 

“Wisdom  and  discretion  are  from  thy  lips, 
Bathsheba.  Rash  words  have  wrought  me 
much  damage.  In  my  sober  moments  I  have 
repented  in  vain.  (Even  as  the  king  was  com¬ 
mending  Bathsheba  and  her  wisdom  Nathan 
enters.)  Noble  prophet,  hast  thou  a  message 
from  the  Lord?  Speak  and  thy  servant  shall 
hear.” 

Nathan  bowed  himself  before  the  king  with 
his  face  to  the  ground.  A  troubled  look 
crossed  the  king’s  countenance  as  he  remem¬ 
bered  Bathsheba  and  his  sin — even  as  the  Lord 
had  said  at  the  mouth  of  Nathan  the  child 
died. 

Then  Nathan  said:  “My  lord,  O  king,  hast 
thou  said,  ‘Adonijah  shall  reign  after  me,  and 
he  shall  sit  upon  my  throne?’  For  he  has  gone 
down  this  day,  and  hath  slain  oxen  and  fat- 
lings  and  sheep  in  abundance,  and  hath  called 
all  the  king’s  sons,  and  the  captains  of  the  host, 
and  Abiathar  the  priest;  and  behold  they  are 
eating  and  drinking  before  him,  and  say,  ‘Long 
live  king  Adonijah.’  But  me,  even  me  thy 


I  IO 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


servant,  and  Zadok  the  priest  and  Benaiah  the 
son  of  Jehoiada,  and  thy  servant  Solomon,  hath 
he  not  called.  Is  this  thing  done  by  my  lord 
the  king,  and  thou  hast  not  showed  to  thy  ser¬ 
vants  who  should  sit  on  the  throne  of  my  lord 
the  king  after  him?” 

“Be  the  thing  far  from  me,  most  noble  Na¬ 
than.  Truly  the  judgment  of  Jehovah  is  re¬ 
doubling  back  upon  me — even  from  the  time 
thou  didst  announce  to  me  the  coming  scourge 
of  my  black  sin.  Bathsheba  is  gone  from  my 
presence,  and  it  is  well.  T  know  my  trans¬ 
gressions,  and  my  sin  is  ever  before  me.’  My 
punishment  is  great — my  frame,  even  my 
wasting  frame  will  fall  beneath  it — Ammon, 
Absalom,  and  now  Adonijah!” 

The  heart  of  the  king  is  too  full  for  utter¬ 
ance  as  he  beckons  Nathan  to  speak. 

“If  the  Lord  should  mark  iniquity  who 
should  stand?  The  Lord  has  been  merciful 
and  gracious  to  David.  Didst  not  thou,  my 
lord,  O  king,  swear  unto  Bathsheba  thine 
handmaid,  saying,  Assuredly  Solomon  thy 
son  shall  reign  after  me,  and  he  shall  sit  upon 
my  throne?  Let  the  king  perform  that  which 
he  sware  unto  his  handmaid  that  the  mercies 
of  the  Lord  may  follow  the  house  of  David 
forever.” 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  hi 


“Call  to  me  Bathsheba.”  As  the  king  ut¬ 
tered  this  command  he  set  himself  as  one  who 
defies  all  opposition.  David  was  as  firm  as 
when  he  laid  his  hand  to  the  task  of  expelling 
the  Philistine  invader  from  the  borders  of 
Israel.  The  king  was  himself  again.  All 
his  household  took  courage  and  waited  in  ex¬ 
pectancy  to  see  what  the  king  would  do. 

The  guards  were  being  drawn  more  com¬ 
pactly  together,  the  attendants  of  the  king 
were  standing  in  groups,  as  Bathsheba  entered. 
As  she  stood  at  the  side  of  the  king  he  lifted 
his  hand  toward  heaven  and  sware: 

“As  Jehovah  liveth,  who  hath  redeemed 
my  soul  out  of  all  adversity,  verily  as  I  sware 
unto  thee  by  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  say¬ 
ing,  Assuredly  Solomon  thy  son  shall  reign 
after  me,  and  he  shall  sit  upon  my  throne  in 
my  stead;  verily  so  will  I  do  this  day.” 

Then  Bathsheba  bowed  her  face  to  the 
earth,  and  did  obeisance  to  the  king,  and  said, 
“Let  my  lord  king  David  live  forever.” 

Before  the  door  of  the  palace  stood  the 
Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites  with  Benaiah 
the  son  of  Jehoiada  at  their  head.  At  the  side 
of  Benaiah  stood  Zodak  the  priest  in  miter 
and  gown,  ready  for  official  duties  at  a  mo¬ 
ment’s  notice.  As  Bathsheba  entered  Nathan 


I  12 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


went  forth  to  confer  with  Zadok.  As  the  king 
renewed  his  covenant  before  the  Lord  with 
Bathsheba  the  light  of  youth  was  again  upon 
his  countenance.  As  the  heroic  marked  every 
lineament  of  his  face  the  king  said  unto  his 
chamberlain : 

“Call  to  me  Zadok  the  priest,  and  Nathan 
the  prophet,  and  Benaiah  the  son  of  Je- 
hoiada.” 

And  they  came  before  the  king.  And  the 
king  said  unto  them, 

“Take  with  you  the  servants  of  your  lord, 
and  cause  Solomon  my  son  to  ride  upon  mine 
own  mule,  and  bring  him  down  to  Gihon: 
and  let  Zadok  the  priest  and  Nathan  the 
prophet  anoint  him  there  king  over  Israel; 
and  blow  ye  the  trumpet,  and  say,  ‘Long  live 
king  Solomon.’  Then  ye  shall  come  up  after 
him  and  he  shall  come  and  sit  upon  my 
throne;  for  he  shall  be  king  in  my  stead;  and 
I  have  appointed  him  to  be  prince  over  Israel 
and  over  Judah.” 

And  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  answered 
the  king  and  said,  “Amen:  Jehovah  the  God 
of  my  lord  the  king  say  so  too.  As  Jehovah 
hath  been  with  my  lord  the  king,  even  so  be 
he  with  Solomon,  and  make  his  throne  greater 
than  the  throne  of  my  lord  king  David.” 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  113 


A  goodly  train!  the  king’s  own  body  guard 
group  about  the  prince  as  Solomon  rides 
King  David’s  own  mule;  then  attendants  of 
every  rank  followed  by  citizens  in  great  num¬ 
ber;  while  Nathan  and  Zadok  lead  the  pro¬ 
cession  to  the  waters  of  Gihon.  Order  and 
precision  mark  everywhere  traces  of  Be- 
naiah’s  hand. 

Nathan  and  Zadok  halt  by  the  fountain. 
Benaiah  with  great  skill  and  celerity  marshals 
the  motley  numbers  about  the  fount;  the  prince 
faces  Nathan  and  Zadok  surrounded  by  the 
guard;  the  citizens  are  thickly  grouped  back 
of  the  guards  who  form  a  wall  between  them 
and  the  prince. 

As  the  citizens  crowd  too  near  the  body¬ 
guard  and  are  forced  to  retire  to  their  ap¬ 
pointed  place  there  is  a  murmur  that  goes 
through  even  the  whole  assembly — “How  is 
it  that  these  Philistines  must  crowd  the  peo¬ 
ple  of  Jehovah  from  their  prince?” 

The  snarled  trees  lean  as  though  they  would 
but  peep  into  the  freshness  of  the  sweet  wa¬ 
ters;  the  struggling  scrub-oak  and  thorn-bush 
about  which  the  creeping  vine  wraps  itself  and 
draws  the  life-giving  moisture  that  this  stunted 
life  so  dearly  bought  of  the  starved  soil — the 
persistent  growth  fighting  for  every  inch  as  it 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


114 

breaks  from  the  scalping  limestone  of  the  hills 
— frown  with  envy  upon  the  rock-bed  of  the 
pool  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  where  gush  out  of 
the  living  rock  the  sparkling  waters  in  which 
are  reflected  the  wildflowers  that  spring  up 
about  the  edge  of  the  fountain.  Life  smiles 
and  laughs  in  luxuriance  down  by  the  sweet 
waters  while  it  frowns  and  struggles  in  twisted 
and  distorted  forms  from  out  the  scalping 
rocks  on  the  bare  parched  hillslope. 

At  En-rogel  all  have  well  feasted,  and  shouts 
from  overstrained  throats  have  died  away 
from  the  bare  faces  of  Judea’s  limestone 
scalped  hills.  At  Gihon  there  is  no  feast.  But 
twelve  priests  with  trumpets  are  standing  at 
the  side  of  Zadok,  and  two  sons  of  the  prophets 
are  at  the  side  of  Nathan.  As  Nathan  lifts 
his  hand  toward  heaven  to  ask  the  blessing  of 
Jehovah  the  God  of  the  fathers  Zadok  pours 
the  horn  of  oil  upon  the  head  of  Solomon. 
The  auburn  hair  falling  about  the  shoulders 
is  given  a  luster  of  heaven’s  peculiar  anoint¬ 
ing  in  the  brightness  of  the  sun.  The  horn  is 
emptied;  the  sons  of  the  prophets  shout — 
“Long  live  King  Solomon”;  the  priests  blow 
the  trumpets;  the  people  catch  up  the  glad 
acclaim,  “Long  live  King  Solomon,”  which 
like  a  mighty  wave  of  the  sea  rolls  through 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  115 


the  Kidron  valley  even  to  the  walls  of  the  city 
of  David.  Nathan  and  Zadok  lead;  Solomon 
rides  his  father’s  mule  while  the  royal  guard 
is  thrown  securely  about  him;  “and  all  the 
people  came  up  after  him,  and  the  people 
piped  with  pipes,  and  rejoiced  with  great  joy, 
so  that  the  earth  rent  with  the  sound  of  them.” 
The  volume  of  the  sound  is  great  as  the  whole 
city  is  gathered  together. 

The  grand  assembly  is  at  the  palace.  The 
door  to  the  king’s  chamber  is  thrown  open  and 
the  king  lifts  himself  from  his  bed  and  even 
stands  upon  his  feet  on  hearing  the  merry¬ 
making  of  the  people.  As  Solomon  kneels  be¬ 
fore  him  he  takes  from  off  his  brow  the  crown 
and  places  it  with  his  own  hands  upon  the 
golden  brow  of  Solomon,  saying,  “Rejoice  in 
the  crown  wherewith  thy  mother  hast  crowned 
thee,  my  son.  Bless  the  Lord  who  crowneth 
thee  with  loving  kindness  and  tender  mercies. 
As  the  Lord  hath  anointed  David  king  of 
all  Israel  so  hath  he  anointed  thee,  my  son,  to 
be  prince  of  his  people  both  of  Judah  and  of 
Israel.  Rule  thou  with  a  wise  heart  that  thy 
throne  may  be  established  and  may  there  never 
fail  a  man  of  the  house  of  David  to  sit  upon 
his  throne.” 

Thereupon  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada 


ii 6  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

lifted  up  his  voice  and  said:  uAs  Jehovah 
hath  been  with  my  lord  the  king,  even  so  be 
he  with  Solomon,  and  make  his  throne  greater 
than  the  throne  of  my  lord  king  David.” 

Then  all  the  king’s  servants  blessed  David, 
saying,  “Thy  God  make  the  name  of  Solomon 
better  than  thy  name,  and  make  his  throne 
greater  than  thy  throne.” 

David  bows  himself  upon  his  bed  and  ex¬ 
claims  in  a  voice  overfull  of  emotion  :  “Blessed 
be  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  who  hath  given 
one  to  sit  on  my  throne  this  day,  mine  eyes 
even  seeing  it.” 

The  venerable  Nathan  and  the  dignified 
Zadok  escort  Solomon  to  the  throne — a  plain 
one,  as  simple  and  as  rich  as  David  in  whose 
mind  fresh  visions  of  the  youthful  shepherd 
of  the  hills  are  ever  present. 

As  Solomon  seats  himself  upon  the  throne 
Benaiah  speaks :  “A  worthy  throne — one  much 
to  be  coveted.  What  are  gold  and  sapphires 
compared  to  the  simple  elegance  of  the  throne 
of  David?  Princes  and  Kings  of  the  earth 
shall  do  homage  at  this  throne,  and  their 
rubies  and  sapphires,  their  gold  and  costly 
jewels  shall  be  as  dust  to  the  simplicity  and 
elegance  of  the  throne  of  David ;  yea,  it  would 
be  so  even  if  the  throne  were  plainer,  for  the 


BATHSHEBA  BEFORE  DAVID  117 


Lord  is  the  beauty  of  Mt.  Zion  and  he  shall 
establish  his  prince  over  his  people  forever.” 

At  this  juncture  the  venerable  Nathan 
spake:  “Most  worthy  captain,  it  is  well  to 
let  prophecy  to  the  prophet.  Grandly  dost 
thou  lead  the  guards  of  David,  but  it  is  not 
good  for  thee  to  exercise  thyself  in  things  that 
pertain  to  the  prophets  lest  thou  speakest  fool¬ 
ish  things  and  flounder  among  the  floods  of 
words.” 

Then  all  the  dignity  of  Benaiah  was 
brought  to  a  point,  and  he  spake  as  one  who 
keenly  felt  the  thrust  Nathan  had  so  unde¬ 
servedly  given  him,  saying,  “Have  I  spoken 
foolishly,  venerable  Nathan,  if  so,  I  will  desist. 
It  may  be  well  for  prophets  not  to  exercise 
themselves  too  much  in  political  contrivings 
lest  they  become  entangled  to  their  hurt  in  the 
treachery  of  intrigue.” 

One  silenced  the  other  for  both  were  dis¬ 
creet  and  wise  men.  The  entire  attention  is 
centered  upon  the  dignity  of  Solomon  who 
graces  the  throne  in  the  full  flush  of  his  vigor. 


THE  SCENE  AT  EN-ROGEL 


A  HUSH  in  the  merry-making  with  host 
and  guest  alike  at  attention. 

“Why  this  noise?  the  city  in  an  uproar? 
Has  God  restored  to  David  his  youthful  vig¬ 
or?”  This  is  uttered  by  Joab  in  stern  mad¬ 
ness  as  he  strokes  his  beard  of  white  that  floats 
on  either  side.  “Heaven  has  done  many  things 
for  David,  but  such  is  not  even  in  Heaven’s 
power,”  continues  the  sullen  captain  bitterly 
as  he  drops  his  eyes.  Adonijah  can  read  his 
thoughts  for  his  own  comfort  too  understand¬ 
ing^.  Suddenly  the  captain  lifts  his  fierce 
glaring  eyes,  and  speaks  with  vocal  chords 
semi-paralyzed  with  anger :  “That  vain  Bath- 
sheba  has  ruled  Israel  from  the  very  day  I 
was  made  the  tool  to  rid  David  of  Uriah.” 

“But,  my  captain,”  groans  Adonijah  with 
a  sigh,  “thou  dost  not  mean  it  so  now?  The 
fair  Shulammite  has  come  to  displace  even 
Bathsheba.” 

“Were  there  ten  thousand  Shulammites,” 
gruffly  replies  Joab,  “they  could  not  displace 

1 18 


THE  SCENE  AT  EN-ROGEL  119 


that  shrewd  woman.  I  tell  thee,  Adonijah, 
the  proud  Bathsheba  along  with  Nathan  have 
set  the  city  in  an  uproar,  and  hiding  in  the 
folds  of  her  skirts  that  harem  pampered  Solo¬ 
mon  seeks - ” 

“Here  comes  Jonathan  the  son  of  Abiathar 
the  priest,”  shout  several  voices  even  while 
Joab  is  yet  speaking. 

“Come  in,  Jonathan  the  son  of  Abiathar,’ 
says  Adonijah,  “for  thou  art  a  worthy  man  and 

bringest  good  tidings.” 

What  breathless  silence  as  men  hold  the 
lingering  hope  that  a  good  man  may  some¬ 
how  or  other  turn  facts  about  so  as  to  accrue 
to  the  good  of  those  who  listen  in  the  spell  of 

the  apprehension  of  fear. 

“Wherefore  is  this  noise  of  the  city  being 
in  an  uproar?”  exclaimed  Joab,  “surely  none 
but  mad  men  would  dare  to  so  imperil  David  s 

life.” 

“Mighty  captain,  our  lord  king  David,’ 
replied  Jonathan,  “is  in  an  unusual  glow  of 
health  this  day.” 

“This  then  accounts  for  the  jubilant  char¬ 
acter  of  the  people  of  the  city?”  asked  Adoni¬ 
jah  in  a  cheery  note. 

Then  was  the  countenance  of  Jonathan  shy 
as  he  looked  upon  the  prince,  saying,  “This 


120 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


may  to  a  great  extent  account  for  it,  but.  .  . 

“But  thou  meanest  David  has  made  Solo- 

« 

mon  king?”  bluntly  and  gruffly  asked  Joab. 

“Truly  our  lord  king  David  has  done  this 
thing,”  quietly  answered  Jonathan,  “and  the 
king  hath  sent  with  him  Zadok  the  priest,  and 
Nathan  the  prophet,  and  Benaiah  the  son  of 
Jehoiada,  and  the  Cherethites  and  the  Pele- 
thites;  and  they  have  caused  him  to  ride  upon 
the  king's  mule;  and  Zadok  the  priest  and 
Nathan  the  prophet  have  anointed  him  king 
at  Gihon;  and  they  are  come  up  from  thence 
rejoicing,  so  that  the  city  rang  again.  This  is 
the  noise  that  ye  have  heard.” 

Silence  fell  all  about  the  feast  for  a  consid¬ 
erable  space.  This  was  broken  by  the  angry 
muttering  of  Joab : 

“Then  the  son  of  Bathsheba  has  but  to  take 
the  throne  and  we  are  but  dead  men?” 

“Oh,  captain,  Solomon  sitteth  on  the  throne 
of  the  kingdom!  And  moreover  the  king’s 
servants  came  to  bless  our  lord  King  David, 
saying,  ‘Thy  God  make  the  name  of  Solomon 
better  than  thy  name,  and  make  his  throne 
greater  than  thy  throne;  and  the  king - ’  ” 

“The  king  would  hear  no  such  rabble-cry 
as  that?”  sneered  Joab. 

“The  king  bowed  himself  upon  his  bed,” 


THE  SCENE  AT  EN-ROGEL  121 


answered  Jonathan.  “And  also  thus  said  the 
king,  ‘Blessed  be  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 
who  hath  given  one  to  sit  on  my  throne  this 
day,  mine  eyes  even  seeing  it.’  ” 

And  all  the  guests  of  Adonijah  were  afraid, 
and  rose  up,  and  went  every  man  his  way.  A 
death  grip  hovered  about  the  deserted  feasting 
pots  as  in  the  ancient  gray  corner  Adonijah 
stood,  consulting  with  Joab  and  Abiathar  what 
they  had  best  do.  As  he  turned  from  his  coun¬ 
selors  a  look  of  despair  was  upon  his  counte¬ 
nance. 

Being  filled  with  fear  because  of  Solomon 
he  arose,  and  went  from  the  midst  of  his  festal 
desolation,  and  caught  hold  on  the  horns  of 
the  altar.  Men  going  to  and  fro  from  the 
sanctuary  looked  into  the  agonizing  face  of 
the  terror-stricken  Adonijah.  It  soon  became 
the  talk  of  the  city,  and  many  visited  the 
spot  to  look  upon  the  man  writhing  at  the 
point  of  desperation  in  the  anguish  of  relent¬ 
less  torture. 

A  messenger  from  the  altar  in  the  midst  of 
the  threshing-floor  of  Araunah  came  to  king 
Solomon,  saying,  “Adonijah  is  in  great  fear 
of  thee,  O  king  Solomon;  for,  lo,  he  hath  laid 
hold  on  the  horns  of  the  altar.  We  could 
not  prevail  upon  him  to  come  away.” 


122 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Didst  thou  tell  him  I  would  show  mercy 
if  he  showed  himself  a  worthy  man?” 

“Verily  I  told  him  that  thou,  my  lord, 
would  show  great  mercy.  But  he  held  sav¬ 
agely  to  the  altar,  saying,  ‘Let  King  Solomon 
swear  unto  me  first  that  he  will  not  slay  his 
servant  with  the  sword.’  ” 

Then  did  all  the  kingly  expression  come 
into  Solomon’s  face  as  he  said:  “If  he  shall 
show  himself  a  worthy  man,  there  shall  not 
a  hair  of  him  fall  to  the  earth;  but  if  wicked¬ 
ness  be  found  in  him  he  shall  die.” 

As  these  words  reached  the  ear  of  the  terror- 
stricken  prince  he  released  his  grip  on  the 
horns  of  the  altar,  and  made  haste  to  do  obeis¬ 
ance  to  king  Solomon. 

As  he  did  obeisance  to  Solomon  the  king’s 
heart  was  warm  toward  him  and  he  said  unto 
him,  “Go  to  thy  house.” 


t 


THE  DEATH  SUMMONS 

A  GHASTLY  light  settles  over  things;  a 
dark  sombre  gray  in  the  royal  chamber 
of  the  house  of  cedar.  With  gloom  excessive 
the  air  is  choking  and  stifling.  In  yon  dark 
corner  is  the  withering  form  of  David  shaking 
from  head  to  foot  from  the  damp  chill.  The 
fragile  frame  shudders  as  chill  after  chill 
passes  through  it.  Cloth  after  cloth  is  thrown 
about  him,  but  still  he  shakes  as  though  the 
last  nerve  will  soon  reach  its  breaking  tension 
when  it  shall  be  shattered  and  the  tent  shall 
fall  for  lack  of  support.  What  anxiety  hangs 
about  the  silent  but  dreadful  chamber  that 
morning  hour?  Servants  scurry  about  here 
and  there  as  though  they  had  forgotten  what 
they  are  about.  None  seems  to  be  able  to 
get  his  wits  together.  All  love  David  and 
their  affections  are  so  twined  about  his  heart 
that  the  severing  of  relations  to  him  is  to 
them  the  anguish  of  death.  But  what  further 
can  they  do?  The  room  is  overheated  by  the 
crackling  fire  upon  the  brazier,  and  the  king 

123 


124 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


is  wrapt  securely  in  clothes  to  the  extent  of 
endurance  of  his  frail  body  and  the  fair  Abi- 
shag  ministers  to  him  tenderly  and  affection¬ 
ately. 

There  is  a  low  whisper.  Every  one  takes 
courage,  for  they  have  wooed  the  life  of  the 
king  back  again.  Smiles  play  on  every  counte¬ 
nance  and  men  and  women  whisper  to  each 
other:  “God  will  spare  our  king.”  Abishag 
places  her  ear  so  as  to  catch  what  the  king  says, 
for  is  there  not  something  yet  to  be  done  that 
David  may  get  strength  and  live?  She  beck¬ 
ons  for  the  chief  butler.  Every  one  is  tense 
to  catch  what  it  is  the  king  calls  for.  There 
would  be  a  thousand  feet  to  scour  every  hill 
in  Israel,  yea,  every  field  of  the  plain  of  Egypt 
to  obtain  the  thing  asked  for  by  the  king.  So 
as  the  butler  listens  every  attendant  lis¬ 
tens  to  catch  the  accents  that  issue  from 
the  whisper.  Sober  is  the  expression  of  the 
butler  as  he  walks  for  the  door.  Each  is  whis¬ 
pering  in  his  soul — “Why  not  let  me  get  the 
thing  the  king  desires?”  But  the  butler  is 
mute  as  he  goes  into  the  open  of  that  sombre 
day.  None  dare  ask  a  question.  The  light  is 
more  ghastly  as  they  wait  in  their  respective 
places  in  absence  of  the  butler.  None  would 
dare  approach  the  fair  Abishag  should  there 


THE  DEATH  SUMMONS 


125 


be  a  summons,  for  her  very  person  was  a  sacred 
something  because  of  her  nearness  to  the  king. 
The  thick  heavy  gloom  settles  deeper,  though 
the  chariot  of  the  day  is  driven  near  mid-day 
hour. 

The  gentle  touch — the  latch  is  lifted.  The 
Cherethites  and  the  Pelethites  are  standing 
erect  at  attention  in  line  at  either  side  of  the 
doorway.  As  a  man  of  goodly  build  and 
youthful  countenance  walks  between  the  lines 
toward  the  palace  door  the  two  wings  close 
slowly  back  of  him.  His  robes  of  scarlet  are 
floating  in  the  thick  heavy  atmosphere.  The 
servants  do  obeisance  as  he  enters  the  door. 
King  Solomon  throws  aside  a  portion  of  his 
vestments  as  he  approaches  his  father  who  has 
recovered  himself  after  a  supernatural  man¬ 
ner.  There  is  no  tinsel  or  glitter — it  is  all  a 
dull  gray. 

“May  the  Lord  be  gracious  to  his  servant 
that  I  may  tell  thee,  my  son,  what  David  had 
to  seal  up  within  his  heart  for  many  years; 
what  has  been  as  fire  in  his  bones.  What  hand 
but  that  of  the  Lord  could  have  caused  me  to 
endure  even  to  this  hour?  Blessed  be  the  name 
of  the  Lord.” 

David  bows  his  head  as  though  in  prayer, 
but  the  hand  stretching  over  the  head  of  the 


126 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


kneeling  son  falls  upon  the  golden  hair  of  the 
king.  A  benediction  in  very  truth — and  has 
the  life  of  David  passed  into  Solomon  with  it? 
A  breathless  silence  wraps  the  house  of  cedar. 
There  is  not  a  move  of  a  hand  or  foot.  It  is 
all  one  great  solemn  quiet  listening  to  the  Still 
Small  Voice. 

What  a  climax  as  the  emotions  run  high  as 
the  grand  old  king  lifts  himself  erect  and  sits 
as  he  did  on  his  throne  in  the  prime  of  his 
days.  Heaven  had  sent  a  helper  to  him.  His 
hands  as  in  days  of  old  were  stretched  in  bene¬ 
diction  over  the  golden  hair  of  Solomon.  A 
thrill  runs  through  every  present  observer.  It 
were  as  though  David  had  just  come  in  with 
the  flush  of  victory  over  some  enemy.  He  al¬ 
most  seemed  equal  to  declaring  himself  abso¬ 
lute  victor  over  the  enemy  that  was  depleting 
his  frame.  But  listen! 

“I  am  going  the  way  of  all  the  earth.” 

Each  had  held  the  head  erect,  but  now  the 
head  smote  the  breast.  They  can’t  mistake 
him,  for  he  has  said  it  with  no  faltering  tongue 
and  with  no  uncertain  accent.  It  has  been 
announced  as  clearly  as  David  would  have 
done  in  the  days  of  his  vigor  when  about  to  set 
out  to  drive  the  invader  from  his  dominion. 
Solomon  looks  directly  into  the  faded  counte- 


THE  DEATH  SUMMONS 


127 


nance  of  his  father  in  which  is  set  a  tint  of 
youthful  glow.  It  is  not  the  last  flicker  of  the 
flame  of  a  candle,  but  is  the  charge  of  a  grand 
monarch  who  with  the  help  of  Jehovah  has 
achieved  great  and  wonderful  things  to  the 
son  of  promise  who  is  to  sit  on  his  throne.  In 
trembling  reverence  the  servants  hear. 

“Be  thou  strong  therefore,  and  show  thy¬ 
self  a  man;  and  keep  the  charge  of  Jehovah 
thy  God,  to  walk  in  his  ways,  to  keep  his  stat¬ 
utes,  and  his  commandments,  and  his  ordi¬ 
nances,  and  his  testimonies,  according  to  that 
which  is  written  in  the  law  of  Moses,  that 
thou  mayest  prosper  in  all  that  thou  doest,  and 
whithersoever  thou  turnest  thyself;  that  Je¬ 
hovah  may  establish  his  word  which  he  spake 
concerning  me,  saying,  Tf  thy  children  take 
heed  to  their  way,  to  walk  before  me  in  truth 
with  all  their  heart  and  with  all  their  soul, 
there  shall  not  fail  thee  (said  he)  a  man  on 
the  throne  of  Israel.’  ” 

The  ray  of  immortality  had  found  its  way 
through  the  chink  of  the  wall  of  mortal  limi¬ 
tation.  The  fading  flower  got  back  its  youth¬ 
ful  glow  and  things  were  as  though  the  old 
king  had  come  into  his  own  once  more.  Every 
one  present  seemed  as  he  was  a  great  store¬ 
house  of  energy  ready  to  go  out  to  transform 


128 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


the  earth  in  the  implicit  confidence  that  there 
would  not  be  a  son  of  David  that  would  fail 
to  make  good. 

“Jehovah  forbid  that  there  should  ever  fail 
a  son  of  David  to  walk  before  him  in  truth 
with  all  his  heart  and  all  his  soul.”  Even  as 
he  says  these  words,  Solomon,  clasping  his 
hands  and  lifting  his  eyes  to  heaven  swears, 
saying,  “I,  Solomon,  thy  son  swear  this  day 
in  thy  presence  and  in  the  presence  of  Je¬ 
hovah  my  God  that  I  will  walk  in  the  way  of 
the  Lord  and  will  depart  neither  to  the  right- 
hand  nor  to  the  left.” 

As  Solomon  swears,  David  pronounces 
benediction  upon  the  oath,  saying,  “The  Lord 
establish  thee  and  thy  throne  forever.” 

Then  there  is  the  silence  of  prayer  and 
the  whole  scene  is  one  that  shone  in  re¬ 
splendent  elegance.  Then  as  though  some 
dark  cloud  hovers  in  the  recess,  things  change 
in  tone  and  color  as  the  old  king  breaks  forth 
giving  vent  to  what  he  had  shut  up  within  his 
bones  for  many  years. 

“Moreover  thou  knowest  also  what  Joab  the 
son  of  Zeruiah  did  unto  me,  even  what  he  did 
to  the  captains  of  the  hosts  of  Israel,  unto 
Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  and  unto  Amasa  the 
son  of  Jether,  whom  he  slew,  and  shed  the 


THE  DEATH  SUMMONS 


129 


blood  of  war  in  peace,  and  put  the  blood  of 
war  upon  his  girdle  that  was  about  his  loins, 
and  in  his  shoes  that  were  on  his  feet.  Do 
therefore  according  to  thy  wisdom,  and  let  not 
his  hoar  head  go  down  to  sheol  in  peace.” 

Solomon  answers  the  charge  of  the  king  his 
father  in  a  resolute  manner  befitting  one  bear¬ 
ing  such  a  stern  commission: 

“As  thou  hast  charged  this  hour  may  the 
Lord  grant  that  thy  servant  so  deal  with  that 
cruel,  hard  man.  Let  him  fall  blighted  be¬ 
neath  the  frosts  of  his  winters.  As  he  has  been 
bitter  so  shall  the  sting  of  bitterness  be  inten¬ 
sified  a  thousandfold  recoiling  upon  himself.” 

David  bows  his  head,  saying,  “This  son  of 
Zeruiah  is  too  hard  for  me.  My  son,  do  all 
that  is  in  thine  heart  that  as  he  goes  down  to 
sheol  the  full  blast  of  all  the  gales  of  his  win¬ 
ters  may  sweep  down  upon  him.”  Then  a 
smile  plays  upon  the  king’s  countenance  as 
darting  sunbeam  upon  the  face  of  troubled 
waters.  It  were  as  though  the  king’s  high 
court  was  in  session  to  parcel  out  the  ways  of 
justice  and  he  had  now  come  to  one  to  whom 
justice  would  be  the  prize  of  high  reward.  Ele 
lifts  his  hand  as  in  benediction  as  he  gives  the 
charge  to  Solomon : 

“Show  kindness  unto  the  sons  of  Barzillai 


130 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


the  Gileadite,  and  let  them  be  of  those  that  eat 
at  thy  table;  for  so  they  came  to  me  when  1 
fled  from  Absalom  thy  brother.” 

After  giving  Solomon  charge  concerning 
the  house  of  Barzillai,  the  smile  left  the  fur¬ 
rowed  face  and  the  visage  of  the  old  king  be¬ 
came  dark  as  though  to  say,  That  is  the  only 
prize  of  high  reward  justice  has  to  pay. 

“Behold  there  is  with  thee  Shimei  the  son 
of  Gera,  the  Benjamite,  of  Bahurim,  who 
cursed  me  with  a  grievous  curse  in  the  day 
when  I  went  to  Manhanaim;  but  he  came 
down  to  meet  me  at  the  Jordan,  and  I  swear  to 
him  by  Jehovah,  saying,  I  will  not  put  thee  to 

death  with  the  sword.” 

At  this  statement  the  king  seemed  to  be  re¬ 
lieved  momentarily  that  he  had  told  the  an¬ 
noyance  he  had  suffered  for  years  in  granting 
mercy  to  this  insolent  one  of  the  house  of  Saul 
— his  mercy  being  taken  advantage  of  when 
he  could  do  no  other  thing  than  grant  pardon. 
This  cumulative  regret  seemed  to  mark  the 
visage  of  the  king  more  dreadful  even  than 
in  the  case  of  Joab  as  he  gave  the  charge  to 
his  wise  son,  saying, 

“Now  therefore  hold  him  not  guiltless,  for 
thou  art  a  wise  man ;  and  thou  wilt  know  what 
thou  oughtest  to  do  unto  him,  and  thou  shalt 


THE  DEATH  SUMMONS  13 1 

bring  his  hoar  head  down  to  sheol  with 
blood.” 

“My  father,  as  thou  hast  charged  me  to 
bring  down  his  hoar  head,  but  lettest  to  me  the 
manner  by  which  it  shall  be  done,  the  thing 
shall  be  even  as  thou  hast  said  and  thy  servant 
will  not  let  one  word  of  this  charge  fail.” 

David  had  spoken  as  a  commander  of 
armies  where  he  would  dare  yield  not  even  a 
degree.  Firm  and  resolute  he  had  decreed 
the  destinies  of  enemies  and  friends — even 
wherever  the  paths  of  justice  led.  As  he  sat 
silent  men  waited  for  him  to  speak  further, 
for  the  king’s  words  had  been  precious  in  those 
days.  But  as  the  silence  lingered  the  chill 
crept  slowly  but  surely  over  the  withered 
frame.  No — Solomon  though  king  of  all  Is¬ 
rael  could  not  rouse  him  out  of  his  stupor. 
The  death-stare  set  in  those  eyes  that  had  so 
often  told  men  to  dare  to  die  in  battle.  He  was 
wrapt  as  securely  as  anxious  hands  could  and 
the  fire  blazed  on  the  brazier  and  yet  he  got 
him  no  heat.  Solomon  was  reaching  towards 
that  withered  frame  as  though  something  was 
slipping  from  him.  It  was  all  so  real,  for  had 
he  not  prefaced  his  charge  with  the  words — “I 
am  going  the  way  of  all  the  earth.” 

Conceive  the  passing  of  the  shepherd  lad 


132 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


on  the  hills  of  Bethlehem!  How  beautifully 
the  chestnut  curls  play  about  his  forehead  as 
he  falls  on  sleep!  But  here  is  an  old  king 
shivering  to  death  beneath  an  abundance  of 
clothes.  The  spirit  of  the  shepherd  lad  would 
have  gone  out  with  the  scent  of  the  field  with 
but  a  thin  vesture  for  the  ruddy  body.  But 
here  the  perplexed  and  troubled  soul  of  the 
old  king  went  out  with  all  the  stuffiness  and 
cheerlessness  of  the  palace  gloom  wrapt  in 
royal  robes  even  as  many  as  his  withered  frame 
could  endure.  Yet  in  either  case  it  was  the 
way  of  all  the  earth. 


ADONIJAH  IN  HIS  HAREM 


I  AM  sick  and  tired  of  these  dull  faces. 

They  paint  the  eyes  and  heighten  the 
blush  of  the  cheeks  to  court  my  favor — they 
weary  me.  Away  with  them  and  their  false 

beauty,  but  give  me - ” 

“My  lord,  O  prince,  thy  handmaids  have 
spread  a  feast  for  thee.”  So  pleads  the  favor¬ 
ite  wife  of  the  harem  as  Adonijah  impatiently 
thrusts  her  aside.  “Let  it  find  favor  in  the 
eyes  of  my  lord,”  said  she,  gaudily  arrayed 
with  countenance  beaming  on  Adonijah  as 
though  she  had  neither  heard  his  words  nor 
felt  his  cruel  thrust.  The  luster  of  her  eye  and 
the  daintiness  of  her  features  were  all  at  their 
best  to  win  the  coveted  favor  as  they  had  so 
often  done.  Her  long  flowing  hair  in  wave 
on  wave,  the  tender  pleading  eyes,  the  clear- 
cut  features  all  splendidly  blending,  the  deli¬ 
cate  figure  and  elegant  grace  of  form — all 
were  not  potent  to  bring  the  prince  out  of 
the  spell  of  the  vision  that  had  seized  him. 
On  seeing  this,  the  woman  decked  in  ele- 

133 


134 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


gant  attire  became  desperate,  her  countenance 
traced  with  great  sadness. 

“Thy  handmaidens  mourn  and  all  their 
apartments  are  turned  to  weeping,  for  thine 
eyes,  O  prince,  are  turned  from  them.” 

“I  am  sick  of  it  all.  Leave  me  to  my 
thoughts.”  As  he  said  this  he  would  have 
swept  her  to  the  side  if  he  could  have,  but 
she  was  bent  on  his  favor. 

“Thy  thoughts,  O  prince,  the  Shulammite?” 
asked  the  woman,  knowing  full  well  the  law 
of  the  harem. 

“Who  told  thee  so?”  impatiently  replied 
Adonijah. 

She  knew  that  there  was  but  one  thing  to 
answer:  “May  she  come  to  thy  harem,  my 
lord,  and  restore  unto  us  the  joy  that  has  been 
ours  aforetime.  I  yield  my  place  to  her  most 
excellent  beauty.” 

She  smiled  and  scanned  the  face  of  her  hus¬ 
band  in  vain  for  a  smile  in  response.  But  his 
manner  became  exceeding  gruff  as  though 
maddened  because  this  lady  had  taken  the 
name  of  the  Shulammite  upon  her  lips. 

“Why  speak  further.  I  must  be  alone.” 

Silence  reigned  as  the  prince  mused. 
“Rightly  I  should  be  king  and  the  Shulam¬ 
mite  should  be  my  queen.  I  will  lay  aside  my 


ADONIJAH  IN  HIS  HAREM  135 


princely  robes  and  will  put  on  the  clothes  of 
my  more  common  years  and  will  visit  Bath- 
sheba,  but  then! - ” 

Startled  he  looked  in  this  and  that  direc¬ 
tion  as  though  he  saw  the  whole  train  of  con¬ 
sequences  coming  upon  him.  Why  cower? 
Such  is  not  the  stuff  from  which  kings  are 
made? 

“But  then — Bathsheba  gave  Solomon  my 
throne,”  murmured  he,  “yet  this  is  the  only 
door  through  which  a  ray  of  hope  enters  my 
lot  of  misery  and  bitter  disappointment.” 

At  this  saying  he  threw  off  his  princely 
robe  and  wrapped  a  faded  cloak  about  his 
shoulders  and  hastened  to  the  house  of  the 
queen. 


AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  BATHSHEBA 


ALL  is  hurry — attendants  are  going  here 
and  there.  Each  day  Bathsheba  sets  her 
house  in  order.  Suddenly  there  is  a  pause. 
Prince  Adonijah  unaccompanied  approaches 
the  queen’s  apartment.  He  is  clad  in  the  cloak 
of  a  common  husbandman.  The  doorkeeper 
salutes  him  as  the  prince  inquires  for  the 
queen. 

“Dost  thou  not  smell  the  scent  of  the  gar¬ 
dens  of  Bathsheba,  Adonijah  son  of  Haggith? 
Is  the  breeze  not  laden  with  the  fragrance  of 
the  rose  of  Sharon?  Then  why  make  inquiry 
for  Bathsheba  the  mother  of  Solomon?  Is  it 
not  known  throughout  all  Israel  that  king  Sol¬ 
omon  speaks  of  trees,  from  the  cedar  tree  that 
is  in  Lebanon  even  unto  the  hyssop  that 
springeth  out  of  the  wall?  If  Solomon  is  a 
product  of  the  harem,  as  some  say,  is  not  this  a 
praiseworthy  acquirement  that  comes  direct  to 
him  from  Bathsheba?  We  never  call  her  from 
her  sauntering  among  the  flowers,”  spake  the 
chief  doorkeeper  modestly  but  firmly,  and 

136 


AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  BATHSHEBA  137 


continued,  “it  would  be  as  impossible  to  call 
Bathsheba  from  her  gardens  as  to  call  Solo¬ 
mon  from  his  throne.  Be  seated  here  in  this 
apartment  and  when  convenient  the  queen  will 
call  for  thee.” 

Chafing  beneath  the  burning  insult,  but 
knowing  full  well  that  this  was  the  only  door 
of  hope  through  which  a  ray  of  promise  could 
enter,  Adonijah  seated  himself  muttering — ■ 
“Better  obey  a  slave  for  a  brief  season  than 
to  be  a  slave  forever.” 

Suddenly  the  spell  of  silence,  breaks  and 
Bathsheba  arrives  at  the  door  of  her  house. 
With  a  stately  bearing  of  great  dignity  she 
enters  the  apartment,  the  prince  bowing  to 
the  ground  before  her. 

“Comest  thou  peaceably?”  asks  Bathsheba 
coldly. 

“Peaceably,”  answers  Adonijah  in  childlike 
candor. 

Then  a  marked  ease  characterized  their  re¬ 
spective  attitudes  toward  each  other.  As  the 
shyness  passed  from  the  prince  an  unusual 
courage  sustained  him  as  he  addressed  Bath¬ 
sheba. 

“Moreover,  I  have  somewhat  to  say  unto 
thee.” 

“Say  on,”  is  the  gentle  grant  of  the  request. 


/ 


i3§ 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Thou  knowest  that  the  kingdom  was  mine 
(at  this  assertion  there  was  an  uneasiness  in 
the  countenance  of  the  queen),  and  that  all 
Israel  set  their  faces  on  me,  that  I  should  reign 
(the  tension  is  almost  too  great  for  the  queen 
to  withhold  longer)  ;  howbeit  the  kingdom 
is  turned  about,  and  is  become  my  brother’s 
(the  strained  look  was  still  on  the  face  of 
the  queen)  for  it  was  his  from  Jehovah.” 

And  now  as  though  some  good  angel  had 
come  from  heaven  on  steps  as  white  as  the 
snows  of  Lebanon  her  countenance  was 
changed  about  and  became  transfigured  so  that 
Adonijah  knew  that  he  had  won  even  Bath- 
sheba.  (For  it  is  his  from  the  Lord.  Was 
not  David  the  Lord’s  anointed?) 

“Then  thou  dost  consent  that  my  son  is  the 
Lord’s  anointed?” 

“The  thing  is  true,  queen  Bathsheba.  And 
now  I  ask  one  petition  of  thee;  deny  me  not.” 

“Say  on.” 

“Speak  I  pray  thee,  unto  Solomon  the  king 
(for  he  will  not  say  thee  nay) ,  that  he  give  me 
Abishag  the  Shunammite  to  wife.” 

“Why  ask  so  hard  a  thing  of  me?”  answers 
Bathsheba  with  a  confused  look  on  her  counte¬ 
nance. 

“O  Bathsheba,  I  know  that  I  have  asked  a 


AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  BATHSHEBA  139 


hard  thing  of  thee,  but  on  this  my  life  hangs 
this  day.  I  will  surely  die  if  I  do  not  get 
Abishag  to  wife.  My  love  for  her  is  as  cruel 
as  the  grave.  And  who  is  there  like  unto  thee, 
O  Queen,  in  wisdom  and  charm,  and  besides 
thou  art  the  mother  of  king  Solomon.  If  thou 
canst  not  obtain  the  request  of  the  king,  who 
can?  Wilt  thou  not  have  mercy  on  this  son 
of  Haggith  and  redeem  me  from  the  cruel  ex¬ 
asperation  of  an  unrequited  love?” 

The  countenance  of  Bathsheba  became  sad 
as  Adonijah  spake,  and  resting  her  hand  on 
the  arm  of  the  great  chair  in  which  she  had 
seated  herself  she  spoke  with  a  deep  touch 
,  of  emotion. 

“Thou  dost  excite  my  pity  and  stir  up  jeal¬ 
ousy  of  an  early  day  when  the  flame  burned 
fiercely  in  my  bosom.  There  was  none  to  re¬ 
quite  me,  O  God!  Heaven  did  but  mix  bit¬ 
terness  in  my  cup  and  press  its  overflowing 
measure  to  my  lips.  My  love  for — was  cruel 
— as  cruel  as  the  grave.  But  who  dares  mur¬ 
mur  at  the  disposition  Heaven  makes?  Well! 
I  know  how  sore  tried  thine  heart  is.  I  will 
speak  for  thee  unto  the  king.” 

At  this  saying  the  face  of  Adonijah  beams 
in  radianf  smiles  and  his  speech  glows  with 
eloquence  as  he  replies  to  the  queen 


140 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“As  flowers  spring  out  of  the  bitter  soil  to 
cheer  the  desolation  of  the  desert  waste,  and 
as  the  sweetest  fragrance  flows  from  the  deeply 
sequestered  nook,  so  the  life  tried  by  the 
fiercest  heat — even  banked  hidden  fires  that 
burn  daily — can  distil  the  fresh  dewdrop  of 
the  late  night  into  the  morning  sparkle  and 
cheer  to  succor  some  worsted  soul.  Thou  hast 
spoken  out  of  the  heart  truly,  great  Queen, 
and  thy  life  radiates  as  a  benediction  to  all 
who  suffer  from  unrequited  love.  The  Lord 
has  requited  thee  in  Solomon.” 

On  taking  leave  Adonijah  bowed  himself 
three  times  to  the  ground  before  the  queen. 
On  returning  to  his  harem  he  threw  aside  his 
faded  cloak  and  put  on  his  gaudy  robes  that 
he  might  embrace  his  wives  and  have  his  fill 
of  love  ere  he  came  into  possession  of  the 
Shunammite,  for  he  knew  that  queen  Bath- 
sheba  would  not  be  denied  her  request.  She 
had  ruled  David  his  father,  and  it  would  be 
more  natural  to  rule  her  own  son  Solomon. 
So  his  spirits  were  high  and  he  called  in  the 
minstrels  with  every  description  of  instrument 
that  there  might  be  no  lack  in  variety.  The 
entire  harem  was  gaudily  decked  so  that  all 
was  a  brilliant  show,  and  a  spirit  of  mirth  and 
jubilee  on  every  side.  A  great  feast  was  spread 


AT  THE  HOUSE  OF  BATHSHEBA  141 


and  the  servants  went  to  and  fro  as  they  did 
when  they  were  certain  Adonijah  would  be 
king  in  David’s  room.  The  old-time  gladness 
made  the  corridors  ring  as  servant  shouted  to 
servant  the  thing  to  be  done  as  guest  after 
guest  arrived.  Even  a  faint  echo  was  heard 
mid  the  corridors — “Adonijah  will  reign.” 
Though  this  was  suppressed  yet  every  one 
heard  and  was  glad. 

As  for  Adonijah  he  was  in  the  apartment 
of  his  favorite  wife.  Her  couch  was  draped 
in  the  finest  tapestry  and  her  garments  smelled 
of  aloes  and  myrrh.  She  was  dressed  as  daint¬ 
ily  as  he  had  ever  looked  upon  her  and  his 
heart  went  out  for  her  as  in  old  time.  He  for¬ 
got  the  Shulammite.  He  whispered  low  but 
distinct : 

“Thou  art  my  queen,  Miriam.  Thou  art 
the  fairest  of  ten  thousand.  Thou  shalt  have 
part  with  me  in  the  throne.” 

The  prince  had  spoken  as  though  beside 
himself.  Yet  the  words — even  the  words  whis¬ 
pered  to  Miriam  in  her  apartment — ran  to 
and  fro  in  the  palace  and  were  on  the  lips  of 
all  the  harem  and  even  the  slaves  caught  a 
hint  of  what  was  being  spoken  by  the  prince  to 
his  favorite  wife.  Day  rolled  his  chariot  along 
regardless  of  what  men  said  or  even  thought. 


BATHSHEBA  AND  SOLOMON 


DAY  had  opened  his  broad  curtains  that 
the  flood  of  light  might  stream  in.  It 
was  a  brilliancy  that  searches  out  the  corners 
and  makes  things  otherwise  cheerless  radiant 
Color  in  things  was  intensified,  especially  ex¬ 
travagant  about  the  king’s  stairway  as  the 
queen-mother  ascended.  The  great  retinue  of 
servants  that  accompanied  her  awaited  at  the 
foot  of  the  stairway.  As  she  entered  the  door 
that  opened  into  the  throne-room  the  king  rose 
up  from  his  throne  to  meet  her,  and  bowed 
himself  unto  her.  Every  guard  stood  at  his 
post  all  the  while.  And  Solomon  seated  him¬ 
self  upon  his  throne  which  was  the  plain 
throne  of  his  father  David,  and  caused  a 
throne  to  be  set  for  the  king’s  mother;  and 
she  sat  on  his  right  hand. 

Even  while  the  king  was  seating  himself  he 
said  unto  his  mother:  “I  sit  on  the  throne  of 
David  which  I  have  from  the  Lord  because 
Bathsheba  is  the  mother  of  Solomon.” 

“Say  not  thus,  my  son,  the  Lord  would  have 

142 


BATHSHEBA  AND  SOLOMON  143 


chosen  thee  to  sit  on  the  throne  of  David  were 
not  Bathsheba  thy  mother.” 

“Why  then  did  he  reject  the  sons  of  kings’ 
daughters  and  grant  the  throne  to  the  son  of 
Bathsheba  who  was  just  one  of  the  daughters 
of  Israel?  Were  it  not  for  thee,  my  mother, 

I  would  have  never  sat  upon  the  throne  of 
David.  There  are  many  mothers  in  Israel 
that  love  their  sons  and  verily  would  have  1 
made  them  king  but  could  not.  The  Lord  has 
granted  thee  great  skill  and  understanding  so 
that  there  is  not  another  in  all  Israel  like  unto 
thee.  Thou  shalt  share  the  throne  with  me 
this  day  and  as  long  as  the  Lord  is  pleased  to 
let  thee  live.  Thou  hast  made  Solomon  king.” 

“Say  not  so,  my  son,  for  even  Adonijah  the 
son  of  Haggith  acknowledges  that  thou  hast 
the  throne  from  the  Lord.” 

“Why  did  he  not  speak  what  he  meant  to 
say — Bathsheba  has  made  Solomon  king?” 

“If  thou  wilt  have  it  so,  my  son,  I  must  de¬ 
sist.  I  have  come  to  ask  a  small  petition  of 
thee ;  deny  me  not.” 

“Ask  on,  my  mother,  for  I  will  not  deny 
thee.” 

“Thou  art  always  good,  my  son.  The  Lord 
reward  thee.  May  he  give  into  thy  bosom  a 
wife  who  shall  be  as  faithful  to  thee  and  as 
careful  for  thee  as  Bathsheba  thy  mother.” 


144 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Jehovah  grant  it,  my  mother.” 

“I  ask  one  small  petition  of  thee,  my  son. 
Let  Abishag  the  Shunammite  be  given  to 
Adonijah  thy  brother  to  wife.” 

Then  the  king  rose  from  his  throne  and  on 
the  impulse  of  the  moment  his  mother  rose 
also,  for  she  saw  his  countenance  greatly  trou¬ 
bled.  And  king  Solomon  answered  and  said 
unto  his  mother: 

“Why  dost  thou  ask  Abishag  the  Shunam¬ 
mite  for  Adonijah?  Ask  for  him  the  king¬ 
dom  also;  for  he  is  mine  elder  brother;  even 
for  him,  and  for  Abiathar  the  priest,  and  for 
Joab  the  son  of  Zeruiah.” 

The  scowl  darkened  the  radiant  brow  of 
Solomon.  The  mellow  voice  was  suddenly 
changed  to  harshness  that  caused  Bathsheba  to 
shudder,  hardly  believing  her  ears  that  this 
was  her  son — even  Solomon.  The  whole  pal¬ 
ace  was  waiting  to  see  what  the  king  would  do. 
Had  Bathsheba  failed  at  the  very  beginning 
of  the  reign  though  this  son  acknowledged  that 
he  held  the  throne  from  her  hand? 

“Treachery,  Solomon,  and  thy  mother - ” 

As  she  was  sinking  to  fall  at  his  feet  the  king 
caught  her  up  in  his  arms  and  clasped  her  to 
his  bosom,  saying, 

“My  mother,  it  is  a  base  coward  that  would 


BATHSHEBA  AND  SOLOMON 


i45 


so  use  thee.”  The  countenance  of  the  king 
was  fierce  as  he  spake. 

“My  son,  to  use  thy  mother — feigning  suf¬ 
fering  love  to  marry  the  one  who  stood  next 
to  David  in  his  last  hour!  I  see!  Forgive! 
O  my  son,  forgive!”  cried  Bathsheba,  sobbing, 
hiding  hei  face  on  the  shoulder  of  the  king. 

Thou  art  my  mother !  For  thee  my  respect 
is  undiminished.  Mother,  thy  person  kindles 
sacred  reverence  in  my  bosom.” 

At  this  saying  the  king  bows  his  head  as 
though  in  prayer  while  the  face  of  his  mother 
is  filled  with  indescribable  anguish. 

“What  lack  of  wisdom!  Dare  Bathsheba 
trust  her  own  judgment  again?”  As  she  ut¬ 
ters  these  words  her  face  is  hard  in  disgust 
as  one  who  refuses  to  be  comforted  because  of 
her  mistake. 

“Mother,  the  coward  played  unfair — he 
came  at  you  from  the  hidden  way.”  But  even 
Solomon  was  at  his  wits’  end  to  comfort  Bath¬ 
sheba. 

“My  counsel  was  reliable  in  the  days  of  thy 
father  for  often  did  David  inquire  of  me  in 
the  midst  of  perplexities  what  he  should  do, 
but  now,  Solomon,  those  days  are  gone  and 
with  them  Bathsheba - ” 

“Say  not  so,  my  mother,  the  wisdom  of  thy 


i4 6  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

words  shall  be  valued  as  greatly  in  the  days 
of  Solomon.” 

After  the  king  has  thus  spoken  to  his 
mother  he  lifts  his  arm  to  Heaven  and  swears 
by  Jehovah,  saying,  “God  do  so  to  me,  and 
more  also,  if  Adonijah  hath  not  spoken  this 
word  against  his  own  life.” 

“Jehovah  has  granted  thee  great  wisdom, 
my  son,”  said  Bathsheba,  having  recovered 
her  self-control  as  she  stood  at  the  king’s  right- 
hand.  Her  countenance  became  quiet  with 
deep-seated  earnestness  in  her  look.  She 
waited  as  Solomon  spake. 

“Now,  therefore,  as  Jehovah  liveth,  who 
hath  established  me,  and  set  me  on  the  throne 
of  David  my  father,  and  who  hath  made  me 
a  house,  as  he  promised,  surely  Adonijah  shall 
be  put  to  death  this  day.” 

Great  silence  was  all  about  the  throne. 
Guards  stood  on  their  spears  and  shields,  not 
knowing  who  would  be  sent  to  execute  the 
king’s  command.  Each  hoping  expectantly  it 
would  be  he. 

“Benaiah,  son  of  Jehoiada!”  (Every  eye 
turns  to  Benaiah  as  the  king  addresses  his  cap¬ 
tain.)  “Go,  fall  on  him  so  that  he  die.” 


ABIATHAR  THE  PRIEST 


SCARCELY  had  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoi- 
ada  departed  from  the  presence  of  the 
king  on  his  bloody  mission  than  the  king  mo¬ 
tioned  to  a  guard  who  was  impatiently  resting 
on  his  shield — thirsting  to  do  a  deed  as  bloody 
as  that  assigned  to  Benaiah. 

“Go  to  Abiathar  the  priest.  Bring  him 
hither  to  me.  See  that  no  hurt  befall  him.” 

It  were  as  though  the  bloodthirsty  beast  was 
muzzled  when  sent  for  its  prey.  The  passions 
were  sputtering  pent  within  as  the  guard  led 
at  his  side  the  man  he  would  have  struck 
through  with  the  sword. 

The  aged  priest  stood  before  the  king  with 
his  great  white  hair  falling  over  his  shoulders 
and  his  long  beard  sweeping  his  chest.  Point¬ 
ing  to  the  breastplate  in  which  were  set  the 
twelve  precious  stones,  he  cries:  “Mercy,  O 
king  Solomon,  mercy  for  Israel’s  priest,  in  the 
name  of  Jehovah  Israel’s  God!” 

The  visage  of  the  king  became  very  dark, 
in  so  much  that  the  aged  priest  trembled  as  he 

147 


148 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


stood  with  hands  lifted  to  Heaven  for  mercy 
and  pardon. 

uGet  thee  to  Anathoth,  to  thine  own  fields.” 
The  venerable  priest  was  startled,  for  he 
could  not  bring  himself  to  realize  that  what 
the  king  was  saying  contained  the  fullest  meas¬ 
ure  of  mercy  he  could  hope  to  obtain.  “Thou 
art  worthy  of  death;  but  I  will  not  at  this 
time  put  thee  to  death,  because  thou  bearest 
the  ark  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  before  David  my 
father,  and  because  thou  wast  afflicted  in  all 
wherein  my  father  was  afflicted.” 

At  the  saying  of  these  words  the  old  priest 
seemed  to  begin  to  realize  how  much  mercy 
was  shown  in  the  sentence  passed  upon  him 
by  the  king.  The  old  priest  who  had  borne 
the  ark  of  the  Lord  Jehovah  before  David, 
but  whose  life  was  full  of  intrigue,  was  thrust 
out  of  the  presence  of  the  king  without  cere¬ 
mony.  So  the  Lord  made  a  full  end  of  the 
house  of  Eli  as  he  spake  at  the  mouth  of  Sam¬ 
uel  the  prophet. 

Plight  of  Joah 

Words  are  winged.  Like  particles  of  dust 
they  saturate  the  very  breath  of  men.  Bosoms 
heave  and  great  sighs  here  and  there  are  sig- 


ABIATHAR  THE  PRIEST 


149 


nals  that  hearts  are  overfull.  The  great  white 
locks  that  fall  over  the  ears  of  Israel’s  cruel  if 
not  heartless  captain  have  not  been  sufficient 
to  keep  those  ears  from  hearing  what  things 
are  coming  to  pass  in  these  days. 

“Dare  Solomon  be  so  ungrateful  as  to  deal 
so  with  Abiathar  who  was  David’s  right  hand 
in  the  days  of  his  sore  trials?  The  holy  priest 
of  the  Most  High — even  the  High  Priest  of 
Jehovah?  Has  his  sacred  person  no  claim?” 

So  Joab  was  heard  to  murmur  his  censure 
severely  condemning  the  judgment  and  act  of 
Solomon  as  he  stroked  his  great  beard  as  he 
sat  in  his  own  house.  His  countenance  became 
gloomy.  His  eyes  flashed  fierceness.  A  shud¬ 
der  ran  through  his  aged  frame.  He  betrayed 
a  fearfulness  that  he  was  insecure  even  in  the 
bosom  of  his  servants.  He  seemed  even  to  sus¬ 
pect  the  butler  who  handed  the  wine-cup  to 
him.  He  refused  to  even  moisten  his  lips  as 
though  he  suspected  the  contents  of  the  cup 
as  deadly,  for  would  not  such  an  act  bring  the 
butler  into  great  favor  with  Solomon?  A  va¬ 
cant  stare  and  then  a  ghastly  madness  seized 
him  and  his  visage  became  as  dark  as  when 
he  thrust  Amasa  and  Abner  out  of  his  way. 
His  servant  heard  him  mutter  as  he  clenched 
his  teeth — “Had  Solomon  shared  the  same 


I 


150  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

fate  Ed - ”  And  then  suddenly  his  counte¬ 

nance  all  changed  and  like  a  mad  brute  cring¬ 
ing  before  some  great  fear  he  cast  his  eye  to 
this  side  and  to  that  as  though  looking  for 
the  deserved  calamity  to  befall  him.  As  his 
great  white  beard  fell  on  his  heaving  chest 
his  eyes  which  had  grown  dull  with  age 
flashed  with  rage. 

“Begone,  base  cowards — every  one  of  you! 
Joab  knows  that  ye  are  all  foul  and  treacher¬ 
ous  and  as  ungrateful  dogs  ye  have  told  all 
his  secrets  to  Solomon  to  save  your  heads.  Be¬ 
gone!  vile  wretches,  I  say,  begone.” 

As  a  raving  maniac  the  man  who  waded 
blood  to  be  the  sole  captain  of  Israel’s  army 
fled  before  the  face  of  his  own  devouring  ter¬ 
ror.  His  mind  was  afire  that  all  was  treach¬ 
ery.  He  imagined  that  his  own  thoughts  were 
betraying  him  to  Solomon.  In  his  desperation 
he  ran  for  the  altar.  Had  not  Adonijah  at  the 
first  secured  mercy  here? 

Men  saw  his  plight.  They  commented  on 
it.  They  told  Solomon  of  it.  Solomon  put 
forth  his  hand  to  make  a  full  end,  and  no  plea 
for  mercy  could  find  a  way  to  his  heart. 

Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  with  spear  and 
shield  was  standing  in  the  presence  of  the  king. 

“Go,  fall  upon  him,”  was  the  stern  com- 


ABIATHAR  THE  PRIEST  15 1 

mand  of  the  king  to  Benaiah. 

As  Benaiah  approaches  the  tent  of  Jehovah 
he  looks  upon  that  old  man,  with  hair  as  white 
as  the  snows  of  Lebanon  and  with  beard 
frosted  from  the  exactions  of  many  winters 
floating  in  the  gentle  breezes  of  Mount  Zion, 
clinging  savagely  to  the  horns  of  the  altar. 

“Come  forth,”  shouts  Benaiah  in  words  as 
stern  as  Joab  ever  could  have  forced  to  pass 
his  lips. 

But  this  man  has  never  obeyed,  and  here 
though  sent  to  desperation  he  cannot  change 
his  habit. 

“Nay;  but  I  will  die  here,”  fiercely  replies 
the  one  who  could  find  no  words  to  plead  mer¬ 
cy.  He  has  never  inclined  his  ear  to  hear 
the  cry  for  mercy  and  never  did  he  ask  meicy 
of  any  man.  To  him  mercy  is  a  stranger. 

Benaiah  cannot  bring  himself  to  desecrate 
the  altar.  He  returns  to  Solomon  to  learn 
more  fully  the  course  to  take.  The  king  is  very 
prompt  in  giving  answer.  With  all  his  royal 
authority  he  speaks  as  though  he  was  but  word¬ 
ing  the  decree  Joab’s  life  had  already  framed. 

“Do  as  he  hath  said,  and  fall  upon  him,  and 
bury  him;  that  thou  mayest  take  away  the 
blood  which  Joab  shed  without  cause,  from 
me  and  from  my  father’s  house.  And  Jeho- 


152 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


vah  will  return  his  blood  upon  his  own  head, 
because  he  fell  upon  two  men  more  righteous 
and  better  than  he,  and  he  slew  them  with  the 
sword,  and  my  father  David  knew  it  not,  to 
wit,  Abner  the  son  of  Ner,  captain  of  the  host 
of  Israel,  and  Amasa  the  son  of  Jether,  cap¬ 
tain  of  the  host  of  Judah.  So  shall  their  blood 
return  upon  the  head  of  Joab,  and  upon  the 
head  of  his  seed  forever.” 

Then  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada  went  up, 
and  fell  upon  him,  and  slew  him;  and  he  was 
buried  in  his  own  house  in  the  wilderness. 
And  the  king  put  Benaiah  in  his  room  over 
the  host. 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM  KING  OF 

TYRE 


THE  pure  soft  breezes  of  the  morning 
bathe  every  cell  with  the  thrill  of  living 
as  the  sunlight  sends  a  thousand  radiant  shafts 
from  the  glistening  snows  of  Hermon  skill¬ 
fully  weaving  out  of  the  shades  and  colorings 
of  the  cedars  and  firs  of  Lebanon  a  mystic 
diadem  to  adorn  the  brows  of  Dan  and  Tyre. 
The  rhythmic  breaking  of  the  sea  upon  the 
shores  of  Tyre  recites  the  poetry  of  perpetual 
friendship. 

The  great  columns  of  cedar  with  costly 
hewn  stone  at  the  top  of  each  forming  the 
support  of  the  porch  of  the  palace  of  Hiram 
king  of  Tyre  face  the  seas  whose  proud  waves 
are  coming  and  going.  There  are  great 
plates  of  gold  upon  the  walls  of  the  palace 
back  of  the  great  heavy  doors  of  brass  on 
which  are  all  manner  of  carvings  of  network 
and  of  chainwork.  Vessels  of  silver  and  ves¬ 
sels  of  gold  are  among  the  choice  furnishings 
of  cedar  of  the  royal  chamber.  The  royal 

153 


154 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


chamber  abounds  in  trimmings  of  purple  and 
of  blue.  King  Hiram  clothed  in  pure  white 
linen  with  a  scarf  of  crimson  about  his  shoul¬ 
ders  moves  through  his  royal  apartment  filled 
with  the  bracing  breezes  that  have  come  up 
from  the  sea  at  the  separating  of  the  darkness 
from  the  light  by  those  mellow  streams  of 
light  from  the  glistening  snows  of  Hermon. 

“Hail,  King  Hiram!”  One  of  the  King’s 
great  merchants  after  doing  obeisance  thus 
addresses  him. 

“Hast  thou  come  out  of  the  land  of  Israel, 
noble  Baal-gad?  How  is  it  with  David  my 
life-long  friend?  Has  Jehovah  his  God 
granted  him  a  return  to  health?  Has  he  any 
further  need  of  cedars,  or  masons,  or  build¬ 
ers?” 

“My  lord  king  Hiram,  live  forever.  Thy 
friend  David  sleeps  with  his  fathers  and  Solo¬ 
mon  his  son  reigns  in  his  room.” 

“My  friend  David  sleeps  with  his  fathers, 
and  his  son  reigns  in  his  stead?  Jehovah  his 
God  grant  that  Solomon  may  be  wise  and 
great  for  David’s  sake.” 

“My  lord,  this  king  of  Israel  is  the  wisest 
king  that  ever  sat  on  a  throne.  His  knowledge 
of  things  can  not  be  measured  and  he  speaks 
proverbs  without  number.  Fie  is  unerring  in 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


155 


judgment  and  no  man  dares  withstand  him. 
The  kings  round  about  have  made  treaties 
with  him  and  the  Pharaoh  of  Egypt  has 
sought  his  favor.” 

Then  was  Hiram  at  a  loss  for  words.  He 
drew  his  scarlet  band  more  tightly  about  his 
white  linen  robe  as  he  bade  his  servant  fill  his 
wine-cup. 

“Why  so  tardy  in  bringing  the  news  of  such 
a  king  to  the  Phoenician  court?  Are  there  any 
people  greater  than  the  Phoenicians  and  are 
not  her  merchants  in  every  part  of  the  earth?” 

“Let  not  my  lord  the  king  be  grieved  be¬ 
cause  of  this  thing.  Is  it  not  known  through¬ 
out  all  the  earth  that  there  are  no  workmen 
like  unto  the  Phoenicians?  What  workman  is 
there  in  all  the  nations  who  is  skillful  to  do 
work  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  and  in  brass,  and 
in  iron,  and  in  purple  and  in  crimson  and  in 
blue,  and  that  knoweth  how  to  grave  all  man¬ 
ner  of  gravings  like  unto  Hiram  whose  father 
was  a  man  of  Tyre  skilled  in  all  manner  of 
cunning?  Now  Solomon  plans  to  build  a 
great  palace  and  he  will  also  build  a  temple 
unto  Jehovah  his  God.  He  would  build  his 
house  of  cedar.  He  called  thy  servant  to  him 
and  let  me  into  his  plans.  As  soon  as  the  king 
of  Israel  made  an  end  of  advising  with  thy 


156  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


servant  it  was  with  great  haste  that  I  came 
unto  thee,  knowing  that  thou  wouldst  be 
pleased  to  hear  of  his  plans  because  of  thy 
friendship  for  David.” 

“The  thing  is  good,  noble  Baal-gad.  Thou 
sayest  well  that  none  are  skilled  like  the  Phoe¬ 
nicians.  I  will  send  my  servants  at  once  to 
Solomon.” 

A  great  company  is  fitted  up  out  of  the  best 
of  the  servants  available  to  accompany  the 
merchant  who  showed  unto  the  king  of  Tyre 
these  things  to  go  unto  the  court  of  Solomon 
king  of  Israel.  Upon  their  arrival  at  Jeru¬ 
salem  they  find  that  Solomon  the  king  has 
replaced  the  plain  throne  of  David  with  a 
very  costly  one  in  trimmings  of  gold  and  of 
silver  even  about  a  Phoenician  carving  he 
had  a  rare  beryl  stone  inserted.  The  Phoeni¬ 
cian  Prince  merchant  along  with  the  others 
of  his  train  bows  to  the  earth  three  times  do¬ 
ing  obeisance  to  King  Solomon,  saying, 

“King  Solomon  live  forever,  greetings  we 
bring  thee  from  our  lord  Hiram  king  of 
Tyre.”  * 

“Let  the  face  of  the  Lord  shine  upon  Hiram 
the  king  inasmuch  as  he  was  a  friend  to  David 
all  the  days  that  my  father  was  king  over 
Israel.  May  he  find  a  friend  as  true  and  last- 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


i57 


ing  in  Solomon  who  desires  his  friendship 
even  above  the  rest  of  the  kings  of  the  earth.” 

Then  did  the  servants  of  Hiram  speak  bold¬ 
ly  of  their  lord  unto  Solomon  the  king,  say¬ 
ing, 

“Our  lord  bade  us  to  tell  thee  ask  whatso¬ 
ever  is  thy  desire  of  him  and  for  David’s  sake 
thy  desire  shall  be  granted  even  to  all  that 
thou  hast  in  thine  heart.” 

Having  placed  his  feet  upon  his  newly  ac¬ 
quired  footstool  of  gold  Solomon  answered 
the  servants  of  Hiram,  saying, 

“Say  to  thy  lord,  Hiram  king  of  Tyre  after 
this  manner:  Thou  knowest  how  that  David 
my  father  could  not  build  a  house  for  the 
name  of  Jehovah  his  God  for  the  wars  which 
were  about  him  on  every  side,  until  Jehovah 
put  his  enemies  under  his  feet.  But  now 
Jehovah  my  God  hath  given  me  rest  on  every 
side;  there  is  neither  adversary,  nor  evil  oc¬ 
currence.  And,  behold,  I  purpose  to  build 
a  house  for  the  name  of  Jehovah  my  God,  as 
Jehovah  spake  unto  David  my  father,  saying, 
‘Thy  son  whom  I  will  set  upon  thy  throne  in 
thy  room,  he  shall  build  the  house  for  my 
name.’  Now  therefore  command  thou  that 
they  cut  me  cedar  trees  out  of  Lebanon;  and 
my  servants  shall  be  with  thy  servants;  and  I 


1 58  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


will  give  thee  hire  for  thy  servants  according 
to  all  that  thou  shall  say:  for  thou  knowest 
that  there  is  not  among  us  any  that  knoweth 
how  to  cut  timber  like  the  Sidonians.” 

It  was  evening  and  the  sea  was  rougher 
than  usual  when  it  was  announced  to  Hiram 
as  he  sat  mid  his  trimmings  of  purple  and 
blue  of  his  palace  of  cedar  by  the  angry  rest¬ 
less  sea  that  the  servants  sent  to  the  court  of 
Solomon  had  returned.  A  certain  anxious 
uneasy  look  sat  in  the  countenance  of  the 
king — anxious  to  hear  but  somehow  not  quite 
ready  to  hear  all.  Even  kings  can  hear  of 
meek  kings  with  ease  and  though  they  must 
smile  when  they  hear  of  rivals,  an  uncertain 
uneasy  feeling  creeps  through  the  frame. 

“Enter,  noble  Baal-gad,  that  I  may  hear 
all  concerning  Solomon  the  son  of  David. 
May  he  prove  as  worthy  of  the  friendship  of 
the  ruler  of  Tyre  as  was  David  his  father. 
David  was  skilled  with  the  sword  and  may 
Solomon  even  exceed  David.  We  are  a  peace¬ 
ful  people — a  nation  of  merchant  princes.” 

As  the  merchant  prince  enters  with  his  sub¬ 
ordinates  saluting  the  king  after  the  custom 
at  the  court  Hiram  acquires  complete  control 
of  himself,  saying,  “Tell  me  all  that  Solomon 
has  bidden  thee  say  unto  me.  For  David’s 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


159 


sake  I  shall  delight  in  doing  even  to  all  that 
Solomon  has  in  his  heart.” 

Then  the  prince  merchant  rehearsed  in  the 
ears  of  the  king  all  that  Solomon  had  said 
unto  him.  When  the  king  heard  Solomon’s 
claim  to  peace  he  moved  slightly  on  his 
throne,  and  when  the  merchant  made  an  end 
of  speaking  he  answered,  saying, 

“Blessed  be  Jehovah  this  day  who  hath 
given  to  David  a  wise  son  to  rule  his  great 
people.” 

Even  that  very  night  Hiram  prepared  a 
feast  for  his  servants  who  had  returned  from 
the  court  of  King  Solomon.  Then  he  gave 
the  noble  Baal-gad  a  reply  to  the  request 
Solomon  had  made  for  timber  and  workmen, 
saying, 

“I  have  heard  the  message  which  thou  hast 
sent  me:  I  will  do  all  thy  desire  concerning 
timber  of  cedar,  and  concerning  timber  of  fir. 
My  servants  shall  bring  them  down  from 
Lebanon  unto  the  sea ;  and  I  will  make  them 
into  rafts  to  go  by  sea  unto  the  place  that  thou 
shalt  appoint  me,  and  will  cause  them  to  be 
broken  up  there,  and  thou  shalt  receive  them; 
and  thou  shalt  accomplish  my  desire  by  giv¬ 
ing  food  for  my  household.” 

When  Solomon  heard  the  message  that  Eli- 


i6o 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


ram  had  sent  in  reply  to  his  request  he  re¬ 
joiced  greatly  and  was  encouraged  to  ask  fur¬ 
ther  of  the  king  of  Tyre,  sending  the  request 
by  the  hand  of  the  noble  Baal-gad  who  waited 
at  the  court  of  the  Hebrew  king,  saying, 
“Noble  king  of  the  Phoenicians,  Blessed  be 
Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel,  that  made  heaven 
and  earth,  who  hath  given  to  the  son  of  David 
a  friend  in  thee — thy  generosity  rejoices  me 
greatly.  1  wish  not  to  be  tedious  yet  I  have 
one  further  request  to  make.  The  house  which 
I  build  is  great;  for  great  is  our  God  above 
all  gods.  But  who  is  able  to  build  him  a 
house,  seeing  heaven  and  heaven  of  heavens 
cannot  contain  him?  who  am  I  then,  that  I 
should  build  him  a  house,  save  only  to  burn 
incense  before  him.  Now  therefore  send  me 
a  man  skillful  to  work  in  gold,  and  in  silver, 
and  in  brass,  and  in  iron,  and  in  purple,  and 
crimson,  and  blue,  and  that  knoweth  how  to 
grave  all  manner  of  gravings,  to  be  with  the 
skilled  men  that  are  with  me  in  Judah  and  in 
Jerusalem,  whom  David  my  father  did  pro¬ 
vide.  And  I  will  give  to  thy  servants,  the 
hewers  that  cut  timber,  twenty  thousand 
measures  of  beaten  wheat,  and  twenty  thou¬ 
sand  measures  of  barley,  and  twenty  thousand 
baths  of  wine,  and  twenty  thousand  baths  of 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM  161 


oil.” 

Upon  receiving  the  request  of  Solomon 
Hiram  king  of  Tyre  spake  unto  Hiram  the 
architect  of  his  palace  after  this  manner,  say¬ 
ing, 

“There  is  none  that  can  excell  thee  in  cun¬ 
ning  and  skill.  Wilt  thou  go  to  the  court  of 
Solomon  king  of  Israel?  May  thy  skill  ex¬ 
ceed  even  what  is  known  of  thee  thus  far 
that  the  house  of  Jehovah  the  God  of  Israel 
be  unexcelled  in  the  earth.” 

Hiram  the  skilled  workman  of  the  palace 
of  Hiram  king  of  Tyre  consented  to  go  that 
the  cunning  of  his  skilled  hand  might  be 
upon  the  house  of  the  Lord  God  of  Israel. 

Then  Hiram  king  of  Tyre  answered  Solo¬ 
mon  in  writing  as  the  Phoenicians  were  skilled 
also  in  the  art  of  writing  having  known  let¬ 
ters  from  the  very  earliest  times. 

The  Court  of  Solomon 

When  the  celebrated  Baal-gad  arrived  in 
Jerusalem  with  the  writings  of  Hiram  king  of 
Tyre  he  found  King  Solomon  seated  upon  his 
throne  in  his  judgment  hall  hearing  pleas  of 
the  people  from  every  part  of  the  land  and 
dispensing  justice  to  all  that  came  unto  him. 


162 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


A  sober  look  of  deep  earnest  marked  his  face 
when  his  chief  officer  announced  that  the  ser¬ 
vants  of  Hiram  had  arrived  and  were  await¬ 
ing  his  pleasure  to  deliver  the  message  from 
their  king  to  the  great  king  of  Israel.  The 
proceedings  of  the  court  were  at  once  arrested 
and  way  was  made  for  the  message  from  Hi¬ 
ram  of  Tyre. 

“Ben-hur,”  said  Solomon,  “bid  the  servant 
of  Hiram  of  Tyre  enter.” 

On  entering  the  giant  Baal-gad  does  obeis¬ 
ance  to  the  king  of  Israel  who  in  turn  salutes 
the  servant  of  Hiram  in  the  name  of  his  king. 

“Welcome  to  my  court,  Baal-gad,  my  de¬ 
light  is  in  Hiram  friend  of  my  father  David. 
Bias  my  request  found  favor  with  thy  lord?” 

“Great  king  of  Israel,  my  lord  has  found  it 
well  pleasing  to  send  this  writing  to  thee  con¬ 
cerning  thy  request.  If  it  be  thy  pleasure 
at  this  time  I  will  read  it  or  deliver  it  to  the 
secretary  of  thy  court.” 

“Noble  Baal-gad,  it  shall  be  altogether  the 
king’s  pleasure  to  have  it  read  by  thee.” 

“Most  excellent  King  live  forever,  this  is 
the  writing  Hiram  my  lord  has  sent  unto  thee 
in  answer  to  thy  request  for  a  skilled  work¬ 
man.  ‘Blessed  be  Jehovah,  the  God  of  Israel, 
that  made  heaven  and  earth,  who  hath  given 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


163 

David  the  king  a  wise  son,  endued  with  dis¬ 
cretion  and  understanding,  that  should  build 
a  house  for  Jehovah,  and  a  house  for  his  king¬ 
dom.  And  now  I  have  sent  a  skilful  man 
endued  with  understanding,  of  Hiram  my 
father’s,  the  son  of  a  woman  of  the  daughters 
of  Dan;  and  his  father  was  a  man  of  Tyre, 
skilful  to  work  in  gold,  and  in  silver,  in  brass, 
in  iron,  in  stone,  and  in  timber,  in  purple,  in 
blue,  and  in  fine  linen,  and  in  crimson,  also 
to  grave  any  manner  of  graving,  and  to  de¬ 
vise  any  device;  that  there  may  be  a  place  ap¬ 
pointed  unto  him  with  thy  skilful  men,  and 
with  the  skilful  men  of  my  lord  David  thy 
father.  Now  therefore  the  wheat  and  the 
barley,  the  oil  and  the  wine,  which  my  lord 
hath  spoken  of,  let  him  send  unto  his  servants: 
and  we  will  cut  wood  out  of  Lebanon,  as 
much  as  thou  shalt  need;  and  we  will  bring 
it  to  thee  in  floats  by  sea  to  Joppa;  and  thou 
shalt  carry  it  up  to  Jerusalem.” 

“Is  the  thing  not  good,  most  noble  elders 
of  Israel?”  So  put  king  Solomon  the  declara¬ 
tive  question  to  his  high  court. 

Ben-hur  lifted  up  his  voice  and  spake  in 
behalf  of  the  court,  saying,  “The  matter  does 
great  honor  to  the  king  of  Tyre.  His  friend¬ 
ship  with  thee,  O  king  Solomon,  will  make 


1 64  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


him  a  name  that  shall  not  be  defaced  by  time. 
He  shall  ever  be  remembered  as  Hiram  king 
of  Tyre  who  with  Solomon  built  the  house  of 
the  Lord.  Honor  to  Hiram  of  Tyre  the  great 
king  of  the  Phoenicians.” 

A  great  shout  went  up  from  the  court  for 
Solomon  and  Hiram.  Soon  the  city  rang 
with  the  praises  of  Hiram  along  with  the  ex¬ 
alting  of  Solomon.  The  whole  land  was 
moved  to  the  praise  of  the  beauty  and  ex¬ 
cellence  of  Mt.  Zion. 

The  Council  of  the  Court 

Then  did  King  Solomon  call  the  court  for 
counsel  to  organize  that  nothing  be  lost  but 
that  all  the  wealth  and  beauty  of  Israel  be 
gathered  and  consummated  in  Mt.  Zion. 

Ben-hur  of  the  hill  country  of  Ephraim 
stood  up  and  spoke  before  the  king,  saying, 

“King  Solomon  live  forever,  Jehovah  the 
God  of  Israel  has  abundantly  blessed  thee 
above  all  the  kings  of  the  earth.  Even  Phar¬ 
aoh  and  Hiram  seek  thy  good  favor.  There¬ 
fore  let  the  king  exercise  the  authority  Je¬ 
hovah  has  given  into  his  hands.  If  it  seems 
good  to  the  king  let  there  be  a  levy  of  thirty 
thousand  men  to  labor  in  Mt.  Lebanon.” 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


165 


“The  king  is  wise  and  his  judgment  is 
trustworthy,”  replied  Ben-de-Ker  to  the  pro¬ 
posal  of  Ren-hur,  “but  it  has  not  been  long 
since  the  king  has  placed  the  storehouses  in 
every  part  of  the  land,  noble  Ren-hur.  Would 
this  not  require  too  many  skilled  laborers 
from  the  vineyards  and  the  olive-groves? 
Would  we  not  draw  from  those  ranks — the 
most  skilled  of  the  hill-country?  Then  the 
provisions  of  the  king’s  table  would  lack  and 
we  his  servants  would  seem  unfaithful  in 
supplying  the  desires  of  the  king.” 

At  this  juncture  Solomon  spake  and  the 
twelve  elders  waited  with  a  sigh  of  relief 
knowing  that  the  wisdom  of  the  king  would 
point  the  way  out  and  give  needful  solution. 

“Let  the  number  the  noble  Ren-hur  sug¬ 
gested  be  raised  for  work  in  Mt.  Lebanon — 
even  to  the  number  of  thirty  thousand.  But 
let  them  serve  in  courses  of  ten  thousand  each 
and  let  each  course  serve  in  the  moun¬ 
tains  for  one  month.  They  shall  be  in  Leb¬ 
anon  for  one  month  and  shall  return  to  the 
vineyards  and  olive-yards  for  two  months  so 
that  there  be  no  lack  in  the  store-cities.  We 
will  thus  have  our  skilled  workmen  with  the 
expert  workmen  of  Hiram  in  Mt.  Lebanon.” 

After  the  king  had  made  an  end  of  speak- 


1 66 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


ing  the  whole  court  united  in  singing  one  of 
the  songs  of  Mt.  Zion  which  David  sung  even 
when  he  brought  up  the  ark  of  the  Lord  to 
Mt.  Zion.  Zadok  the  priest  pronounced  a 
blessing  upon  the  king,  and  entire  court 
praised  Jehovah  because  he  had  given  Israel 
a  wise  and  great  king  in  Solomon. 

After  these  things  the  king  commanded, 
saying, 

“Call  to  me  Adoniram.” 

The  words  had  scarcely  gone  out  from  his 
lips  than  Adoniram  the  most  expert  work¬ 
man  in  all  Israel  stood  before  the  king. 

“Adoniram,  I  set  thee  over  thirty  thousand 
men  who  shall  serve  in  courses  of  ten  thou¬ 
sand  a  month  in  Alt.  Lebanon.  See  thou  that 
there  be  nothing  lacking  either  in  respect  to 
the  men  or  in  respect  to  the  tools  that  apper¬ 
tain  to  the  workmen.  I  intrust  the  thirty 
thousand  to  thy  hand  knowing  that  thou  canst 
instruct  in  cunning  and  skill.  Thou  and  the 
men  under  thee  are  to  work  with  the  skilled 
men  of  Hiram  king  of  Tyre.  Thou  hast  all 
authority  to  require  efficiency  from  the  hands 
of  the  men  subject  to  task-work.” 

“My  lord  whom  Jehovah  hath  appointed 
to  rule  his  people  Israel,  why  shouldst  thou 
commit  such  great  things  to  thy  servant  who 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


167 


am  but  least  in  my  father’s  house?  Should  thy 
servant  fail  let  it  be  known  to  the  king  that 
he  will  loathe  himself.  May  the  Lord  for  his 
great  namesake  never  permit  Adoniram  to 
fall  below  his  best.” 

As  Adoniram  departed  from  the  king’s 
court  Joseph  of  Issachar  spake,  saying, 

“Nothing  is  hid  from  the  king  whether  it 
be  small  or  great.  With  wisdom  he  speaks 
of  the  cedars  of  Lebanon  to  the  hyssop  that 
springeth  out  of  the  wall.  But  what  are  ten 
thousand  men  a  month  among  the  cedars  and 
firs  of  Lebanon?  Will  it  not  consume  all  the 
energy  and  time  to  do  the  expert  work  con¬ 
nected  with  the  timber  hewn  down?  Then 
how  can  they  do  the  rough  work  of  cutting 
down  trees  and  drawing  water?  Should 
there  not  be  provided  less  skilled  workmen  to 
cut  down  the  trees,  provide  the  food  and 
draw  the  water?” 

Ben-hur  was  impatient  for  Joseph  of  Issa¬ 
char  to  finish  as  he  believed  that  he  himself 
could  put  it  more  dirdct  and  along  with  the 
suggestion  the  solution  at  the  same  time.  So 
he  spoke  even  cutting  of!  the  elder  Joseph 
in  the  midst  of  his  speech,  saying, 

“There  are  many  of  the  Amorites  in  the 
mountains  of  Ephraim  this  day.  Let  these 


1 68 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


men  be  used  by  the  king  for  this  crude  work 
tnat  the  skilled  Adoniram  and  his  workmen 
be  reserved  for  finer  tasks.” 

I  hereupon  Ahimaaz  of  Naphtali  answer¬ 
ed,  saying,  “The  Amorites,  the  Hittites,  the 
Perezites,  and  the  Elivites,  and  the  Jebusites 
Joshua  the  son  of  Nun  was  not  able  to  whol¬ 
ly  destroy  when  he  conquered  the  land.  These 
have  multiplied  abundantly  and  let  the  king 
do  as  it  is  pleasing  to  him  for  even  all  these 
could  be  spared  except  those  who  are  bond- 
servants  to  the  store-cities  and  yet  the  land 
would  suffer  no  hurt.  Let  the  king  cause  all 
the  sojourners  within  the  borders  to  be  num¬ 
bered  and  let  them  be  sent  to  Mt.  Lebanon  to 
be  drawers  of  water  and  hewers  of  wood.” 

aThe  thing  is  good,  noble  Ben-hur,”  said 
the  king,  “let  the  levy  be  made  at  once  and 
take  of  the  best  of  them  as  officers  over  the 
rest  of  the  bondmen  as  they  understand  them 
far  better  than  we.  Adoniram  will  see  that 
the  officers  are  adequately  instructed  and  di¬ 
rected.  I  therefore  appoint  the  twelve  offi¬ 
cers  who  are  over  the  twelve  store-cities  to 
make  the  required  levy  and  apportion  the 
needed  number  to  each  store-city  after  which 
the  rest  will  be  set  to  work  in  the  mountains 
of  Lebanon.  Benaiah,  son  of  Jehoiada,  thou 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


169 


shalt  be  at  the  head  of  the  levy,  and  the  first 
officer  under  thee  from  the  store-city  shall  be 
Ren-hur  of  Ephraim.  Noble  Ben-hur,  there 
has  been  no  worthier  of  the  house  of  Hur 
since  the  mighty  Hur  who  held  up  the  hands 
of  Moses  as  the  battle  waxed  strong  against 
the  enemies  of  the  Lord  and  his  chosen  people 
Israel.  Thy  hand  shall  be  as  valiant  as  was 
the  hand  of  thy  father  that  the  matter  be 
executed  speedily  and  efficiently.” 

“Let  thy  servant  Ben-hur  do  as  the  king 
has  said.” 

“God  do  so  to  me  and  more  also  if  Benaiah 
the  son  of  Jehoiada  doth  not  faithfully  exe¬ 
cute  the  commands  of  his  lord  king  Solomon 
in  all  that  he  has  said.” 

As  the  king  rose  from  his  throne  Benaiah 
and  Ben-hur  bowed  at  his  feet  swearing  to 
faithfully  execute  his  commands. 

The  Levy 

The  sojourners  in  the  land  numbered  one 
hundred  and  fifty-three  thousand  and  six  hun¬ 
dred.  Seventy  thousand  he  caused  to  bear  bur¬ 
dens  while  eighty  thousand  were  hewers  in 
the  mountains.  Three  thousand  and  six  hun¬ 
dred  were  set  over  the  taskworkers. 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


170 

Solomon’s  skilled  workmen  along  with  Hi¬ 
ram’s  expert  workmen  cut  the  cedars  and  firs 
out  of  Lebanon  and  hewed  out  the  timber 
and  brought  the  timber  by  raft  on  the  sea  to 
Joppa  thirty-five  miles  from  Jerusalem. 

Solomon’s  builders  and  Hiram’s  builders 
along  with  the  skilled  Gebalites  hewed  out 
the  great  costly  stones  from  the  quarry  on 
which  the  city  stood.  These  stones  were 
wrought  into  the  foundation  of  the  house  of 
the  Lord.  The  expert  Gebalites  along  with 
the  other  skilled  workmen  prepared  the  tim¬ 
ber  for  the  building  also  so  that  although  the 
temple  was  seven  years  in  building  there  was 
not  the  sound  of  a  hammer  to  be  heard  neither 
was  any  tool  lifted  up  upon  it. 

The  Palace  of  Cedar 

Even  before  Solomon  built  the  house  of 
the  Lord  he  built  for  himself  a  house  of 
cedar  of  the  forests  of  Lebanon.  He  was 
thirteen  years  building  him  the  palace  of  ce¬ 
dar.  The  construction  of  the  building  was 
after  this  wise. 

The  upper  stones  of  the  house  of  the  For¬ 
ests  of  Lebanon  rested  upon  forty-five  pillars 
arranged  in  rows  of  fifteen,  hewn  from  the 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


171 

costly  cedars  of  Lebanon.  The  dimensions 
of  the  goodly  house  were  about  one  hundred 
and  seventy-five  feet  in  length,  eighty-five 
feet  in  width,  and  fifty  feet  in  height.  The 
lower  story  was  a  well  lighted  audience  room 
while  the  chambers  above  were  used  for  stor¬ 
ing  weapons  and  military  equipment.  Be¬ 
yond  this  house  of  Lebanon  were  two  halls. 
The  first  was  a  large  porch  with  numerous 
pillars  open  to  one  side  with  a  length  of 
eighty-five  feet  and  a  breadth  of  fifty  feet. 
The  second  hall  was  inclosed  with  cedar  and 
joined  this  open  hall  or  porch.  In  this  in¬ 
closed  hall  king  Solomon  set  up  his  judgment 
seat.  His  throne  was  of  ivory  overlaid  with 
gold  with  a  footstool  of  gold  fastened  to  it 
and  there  led  up  to  the  throne  six  steps.  There 
were  stays  on  either  side  by  the  place  of  the 
seat,  and  two  lions  standing  beside  the  stays. 
And  twelve  lions  stood  there  on  the  one  side 
and  on  the  other  upon  the  six  steps.  There 
was  not  the  like  made  in  any  kingdom.  Back 
of  the  throne-room  and  between  it  and  the 
temple  were  the  private  apartments  of  king 
Solomon.  Hard  by  these  apartments  was  the 
house  of  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh  wife  of 
Solomon.  All  these  buildings  were  of  hewn 
stone  finished  with  cedar  of  the  forests  of  Leb- 


172 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


anon.  And  Hiram  wrought  in  every  device. 

The  Wealth  of  Solomon 

As  Solomon’s  wealth  increased  he  strength¬ 
ened  himself  throughout  the  borders  of  Is¬ 
rael.  He  built  the  border-city  Gezer  which 
Pharaoh  burnt  when  he  captured  the  same 
from  the  Philistines  and  gave  to  his  daugh¬ 
ter  the  wife  of  Solomon.  He  fortified  him¬ 
self  in  like  manner  in  every  part  of  the  land, 
especially  the  wilderness  way.  Having  estab¬ 
lished  store-cities  as  has  been  said,  he  also 
established  cities  for  his  chariots,  and  cities 
for  his  horsemen.  He  even  built  cities  for 
his  pleasure  in  Jerusalem,  and  in  Lebanon, 
and  in  all  the  land  of  his  dominion. 

To  meet  the  exactions  of  these  demands, 
all  the  people  that  were  left  of  the  Amorites, 
the  Hittites,  and  the  Perizites,  the  Hivites 
and  the  Jebusites  were  made  bondservants  to 
Solomon.  He  did  not  make  bondservants  of 
Israel;  but  they  were  the  men  of  war,  and 
his  servants,  and  his  princes,  and  his  cap¬ 
tains,  and  rulers  of  his  chariots,  and  of  his 
horsemen.  There  were  twelve  thousand 
horsemen  and  fourteen  hundred  chariots  in 
his  standing  army. 


LEAGUE  WITH  HIRAM 


i73 


He  made  a  navy  of  ships  which  had  a  har¬ 
bor  in  the  Red  Sea  in  the  land  of  Edom. 
They  went  to  Ophir  and  fetched  from  thence 
gold.  His  ships  that  went  to  Tarshish  with 
the  servants  of  Hiram  king  of  Tyre,  brought 
to  him  gold  and  silver,  ivory,  apes,  and  pea¬ 
cocks,  making  a  trip  every  three  years. 

The  horsemen  and  officers  in  the  store-cit¬ 
ies  and  his  chariot  cities  along  with  those 
with  the  king  in  Jerusalem,  provided  the  vic¬ 
tuals  for  the  king’s  table.  There  was  nothing 
lacking.  Barley  also  and  straw  for  the  horses 
and  swift  steeds  brought  they  to  the  place 
where  the  officers  were,  every  man  according 
to  his  charge.  (He  had  four  thousand  stalls 
for  horses  and  chariots  and  twelve  thousand 
horsemen  which  he  bestowed  in  the  chariot- 
cities  and  with  the  king  at  Jerusalem.) 

The  king’s  provision  for  one  day  was  thirty 
measures  of  fine  flour,  and  three-score  meas¬ 
ures  of  meal,  ten  fat  oxen  and  twenty  oxen 
out  of  the  pastures,  and  a  hundred  sheep,  be¬ 
sides  harts,  and  gazelles,  roebucks  and  fatted 
fowls. 

All  king  Solomon’s  drinking  vessels  were 
of  gold,  and  all  the  vessels  of  the  house  of  the 
Forests  of  Lebanon  were  of  pure  gold;  none 
were  of  silver;  it  was  nothing  accounted  of 


174 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


in  the  days  of  Solomon.  Yes,  the  king  made 
silver  to  be  in  Jerusalem  as  stones,  and  cedars 
made  he  to  be  as  sycamore  trees  that  are  in 
the  lowland,  for  abundance. 

Solomon  exceeded  all  the  kings  of  the  earth 
in  riches  and  wisdom.  Rulers  and  kings  of 
the  earth  came  to  visit  him  and  hear  his  wis¬ 
dom  and  see  his  wealth.  Every  man  of  them 
brought  his  tribute  of  silver,  vessels  of  gold, 
raiment,  armor  and  spices,  horses  and  mules. 
He  ruled  over  all  the  kings  from  the  River 
unto  the  land  of  the  Philistines  and  even  unto 
the  borders  of  Egypt.  He  married  kings’ 
daughters  and  took  wives  of  the  fairest  of  the 
land  as  it  pleased  him. 


THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA 


THE  fragrance  of  spices  on  the  wings  of 
the  light  balmy  air  came  up  the  goodly 
avenues  protected  by  the  inviting  shades  of  the 
large  palm-trees  as  the  Queen  of  Sheba  was 
seating  herself  upon  her  ivory  throne  in  the 
center  of  her  magnificent  porch  made  of  al- 
mug-trees.  Gold  glittered  from  the  furnish¬ 
ings  of  her  palace  and  from  her  person  there 
was  a  goodly  array  of  sparkling  gems — even 
the  most  costly  that  could  be  secured  from 
earth’s  remotest  region.  Attendant  after  at¬ 
tendant  fell  before  her  considering  themselves 
happy  if  permitted  to  address  her  even 
through  some  superior  of  the  realm.  Her 
Majesty  inspired  awe  and  reverence  through¬ 
out  all  Sheba. 

Beneath  a  large  palm  not  far  removed  from 
the  pavilion  of  the  great  queen  there  were 
grouped  a  number  of  the  celebrated  men  of 
her  kingdom  earnestly  engaged  in  conversa¬ 
tion. 

“They  say  that  there  is  a  king  in  the  North,” 

i75 


176  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


said  a  young  merchant  who  had  but  recently 
come  into  great  prosperity,  “who  has  a  pavil¬ 
ion  equal  to  this  of  our  most  excellent  queen.” 
His  swarthy  face  fairly  beamed  as  he  said  it. 

Just  then  an  elderly  prince-merchant  at  his 
side  spoke  up,  saying,  “It  seems  to  light  up 
thy  countenance  that  there  should  be  one  in 
this  earth  that  would  rival  our  most  wonder¬ 
ful  queen  of  Sheba.  As  for  myself  I  have 
traveled  far  beyond  the  Indus  and  I  have 
found  no  peer  to  this  our  queen  among  the 
rulers  of  the  earth — even  Egypt  cannot  boast 
her  equal.” 

“Most  worthy  prince,  be  it  far  from  me  to 
say  that  her  Majesty  our  Queen  has  an  equal 
in  the  earth.  It  is  reported  that  a  king  has 
arisen  in  the  North  whose  wealth  is  fabulous. 
My  merchants  are  in  that  section  selling 
spices  and  almug-trees.  So  successful  have 
they  been  at  the  court  of  this  king  that  I  fear 
I  shall  not  be  able  to  fill  the  orders,  but  I — ” 

“Not  able  to  fill  the  orders  didst  thou  say?” 
exclaimed  the  prince-merchant  who  had  re¬ 
buked  the  younger  man  for  intimating  that  it 
should  ever  even  be  thought  that  there  could 
be  a  ruler  to  match  their  queen.  “Then  most 
noble  friend,”  he  continued,  “I  will  most 
gladly  share  with  thee  that  there  be  nothing 


THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA 


177 


lacking  and  that  thou  be  not  embarrassed  by 
the  too  exacting  demands.” 

“Let  there  be  no  fear  for  me,  most  noble 
prince,  neither  let  thyself  be  disturbed  con¬ 
cerning  the  matter,  the  God  who  dwellest  on 
Sinai  will  open  to  me  forest  of  almug-trees 
if  He  must  remove  the  floor  of  the  land  of 
Sheba  to  do  so  for  Solomon  his  servant’s  sake. 
He  will  send  my  merchants  into  great  groves 
of  spices — even  where  the  air  is  laden  with 
perfume  of  myrrh  and  aloes  for  sake  of  his 
promise  to  the  king  at  Jerusalem.” 

“Man,  thou  speakest  too  roseate,”  exclaim¬ 
ed  the  venerable  prince-merchant  stroking  his 
beard  all  the  while.  “The  God  of  Sinai  has 
never  so  dealt  with  men,”  he  continued. 

“What  of  that!”  retorted  the  young  mer¬ 
chant,  “Jehovah  the  God  of  Sinai  is  now  even 
so  dealing  with  the  great  king  of  the  North.” 
A  hand  was  placed  upon  the  shoulder  of  the 
young  man  even  while  he  was  speaking  and 
as  he  turned  himself  about,  behold,  he  looked 
into  the  eyes  of  his  headservant  who  had  just 
returned  from  the  court  of  Solomon  king  at 
Jerusalem  in  the  far  North  Country! 

“Just  out  of  the  North  Abukka?”  exclaimed 
the  young  merchant  as  he  gazed  into  the  face 
of  his  chief  salesman. 


178  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

“My  lord,  thy  servant  is  direct  from  the 
court  of  the  great  King  at  Jerusalem  to  whom 
Jehovah  the  God  of  Sinai  has  caused  all  the 
wealth  of  the  earth  to  flow.” 

“But  not  as  he  has  done  for  our  Queen  of 
Sheba!”  broke  in  the  white-haired  merchant 
prince. 

“We  praise  our  Queen,  prince  Ben-adem, 
and  rightly  hold  that  there  is  no  charm  in 
earth  to  exceed  hers,  but  when  I  came  to  the 
court  of  Solomon - ” 

“Sayest  thou  that  our  Queen  is  inferior  to 
Solomon,  king  at  Jerusalem?”  spake  the 
hoary  headed  merchant  in  a  voice  of  severe 
rebuke. 

“The  God  of  Sinai  forbid!”  answered 
Abukka,  “we  would  in  nowise  under-rate  our 
Queen  yet  I  must  speak  of  facts  as  I  found 
them  in  Jerusalem.  Our  great  Queen  has  a 
throne  of  ivory,  but  Solomon’s  is  ivory  over¬ 
laid  with  gold;  our  Queen  has  the  most  beau¬ 
tiful  rugs  of  the  East  on  which  to  rest  her 
feet  when  sitting  upon  her  throne,  but  this 
king  at  Jerusalem  has  a  footstool  of  gold  fast¬ 
ened  to  his  throne;  the  attendants  of  our 
Queen  who  stand  at  her  side  continually  are 
clothed  in  garments  as  goodly  as  her  mer¬ 
chants  can  secure,  but  those  who  wait  on 


THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA 


179 


Israel’s  king  wear  garments  whose  trimmings 
are  of  gold  and  precious  stones  like  unto  the 
kings  of  the  earth.  As  to  the  provision  of  his 
table  and  as  to  the  retinue  of  his  servants, 
chariots,  and  horses  I  cannot  find  words  to 
describe.” 

As  he  so  uttered  an  attendant  of  the  queen 
came  up  to  summon  him  before  her  maj¬ 
esty.  As  he  went  up  the  broad  avenue  which 
guarded  the  approach  of  the  royal  pavilion 
misgivings  filled  his  soul  for  having  spoken 
so  freely.  Why  did  he  not  safeguard  his 
words  wisely? 

As  he  bowed  to  do  obeisance  to  the  queen 
even  before  he  lifted  himself  up  the  queen 
addressed  him  in  a  steady  and  clear  voice. 

“Tell  me,  Abukka,  all  that  thou  hast  seen 
and  with-hold  nothing  for  a  fact  is  none  the 
less  real  because  hidden.  Relate  it  all  even 
as  thine  eyes  have  seen  it.” 

When  she  had  made  an  end  of  speaking  the 
merchant  stood  before  the  throne  and  told  it 
as  it  was  in  his  heart,  saying, 

“Great  Queen  of  Sheba,  my  heart  is  indeed 
grateful  because  thou  dost  exact  nothing  but 
fact  and  I  thy  servant  shall  relate  to  thee 
even  as  mine  eyes  have  seen — nothing  will  I 
with-hold  from  the  Queen.” 


i8o 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


So  he  spake  of  all  the  wealth  of  Solomon 
but  when  he  came  to  speak  of  the  wisdom  of 
that  king  she  laughed  lightly,  saying, 

“Even  if  Jehovah  the  God  of  Sinai  him¬ 
self  were  to  come  down  to  earth  there  could 
not  be  found  such  wisdom  in  man.  And  thou 
sayest  he  speaks  in  addition  to  this  2,000  prov¬ 
erbs?  Impossible — were  Jehovah  of  Sinai 
to  put  on  the  flesh  of  man  this  thing  could 
not  be.” 

“Has  the  Queen  ever  reached  a  conclusion 
after  this  manner  before?”  said  the  noble 
Abukka  as  he  looked  directly  at  the  queen, 
“dost  thou  not  at  all  times  look  into  a  matter 
for  thyself,  O  Queen  of  Sheba?” 

An  earnest  look  dwelt  in  the  face  of  the 
merchant  as  he  awaited  her  answer. 

“It  is  as  thou  hast  said,  noble  Abukka,  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  delights  to  be  fair  and  see 
for  herself  before  passing  her  judgment. 
Many  are  the  rumors  that  have  come  to  me 
of  late  of  this  extraordinary  king  but  as  I 
cannot  bring  myself  to  give  them  credence  I 
will  prepare  my  train  and  go  and  see  for 
myself.” 

All  her  face  was  aglow  as  she  anticipated 
entering  a  new  country  to  behold  new  things, 
for  was  she  not  the  queen  of  merchants  who 


THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA  181 

went  to  the  end  of  the  earth? 

What  a  royal  train  as  it  moves  out  of  the 
land  of  goodly  fruit  and  spices!  The  sun 
rose  with  sweet  aroma  of  spikenard  on  the 
wings  of  the  breezes.  A  very  great  train 
and  camels  that  bare  spices,  and  gold  in 
abundance,  and  precious  stones,  moved  from 
out  the  shade  of  the  palms  of  Sheba  into  the 
burning  sands  of  the  desert  bound  for  the 
court  of  Solomon  at  Jerusalem.  The  scalp¬ 
ing  rocks  grinned  from  the  baked  earth  as  the 
sole  greeting  from  every  side  given  the 
Queen  of  Sheba  and  her  royal  train  as  they 
approached  Jerusalem  the  city  of  Solomon,  the 
king  whose  wealth  exceeded  all  the  kings  of 
the  earth. 

And  when  the  Queen  of  Sheba  had  seen  all 
the  wisdom  of  Solomon,  and  the  house  he  had 
built,  and  the  food  of  his  table,  and  the  sit¬ 
ting  of  his  servants,  and  the  attendance  of 
his  ministers,  and  their  apparel,  and  his  cup¬ 
bearers,  and  his  ascent  by  which  he  went  up 
into  the  house  of  Jehovah,  there  was  no  more 
spirit  in  her.  And  she  said  to  the  king,  “It 
was  a  true  report  that  I  heard  in  mine  own 
land  of  thine  acts,  and  of  thy  wisdom.  How- 
beit  I  believed  not  the  words,  until  I  came, 
and  mine  eyes  had  seen  it:  and  behold  the 


I§2 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


half  was  not  told  me;  thy  wisdom  and  thy 
prosperity  exceed  the  fame  which  I  heard. 
Happy  are  thy  men,  happy  are  these  thy  ser¬ 
vants  that  stand  continually  before  thee,  and 
that  hear  thy  wisdom.” 

Then  the  king  answered,  saying,  “ O  Queen 
of  the  South,  be  it  known  unto  thee  that  I 
Solomon  king  of  Israel  have  all  these  things 
thine  eyes  have  seen  and  all  this  wisdom  that 
thine  ears  have  heard  from  Jehovah  my  God 
who  loveth  Israel  and  hath  made  me  king 
over  his  people.” 

Then  the  Queen  of  the  South  lifted  up  her 
voice,  saying,  “Blessed  be  Jehovah  thy  God, 
who  delighted  in  thee,  to  set  thee  on  the 
throne  of  Israel:  because  Jehovah  loved  Is¬ 
rael  forever,  therefore  made  he  thee  king  to 
do  justice  and  righteousness.” 

Then  she  poured  the  treasures  of  Sheba 
into  the  lap  of  Solomon:  “A  hundred  and 
twenty  talents  of  gold,  and  of  spices  very 
great  store,  and  precious  stones:  there  came 
no  more  such  abundance  of  spices  as  those 
which  the  Queen  of  Sheba  gave  to  King  Solo¬ 
mon.” 

And  the  king  said  in  the  midst  of  all  this 
affusion  of  wealth:  “Great  Queen  of  the 
South,  ask  and  I  will  grant  thee  all  thy  de- 


THE  QUEEN  OF  SHEBA  183 


'  5) 

sire. 

Then  answered  the  queen,  saying,  “Let  it 
be  even  as  the  king  has  said.  Hast  thou  not 
asked  wisdom  of  thy  God?  What  better  thing 
can  I  request  of  thee  than  to  share  with  the 
queens  of  thy  house  that  mine  offspring  be 
heir  to  thy  wisdom.  What  could  I  desire 
more  than  to  be  loved  of  thee,  O  Solomon, 
king  of  the  Hebrews?” 

As  she  spake  this  a  radiant  smile  transfig¬ 
ured  her  countenance  and  her  face  beamed 
with  delight  as  she  looked  into  the  eyes  of 
the  king. 

“It  shall  be  as  thou  hast  said,”  answered 
the  king,  “even  as  thou  hast  made  request 
shalt  thou  be  a  queen  of  Solomon  sitting  on 
the  throne  of  the  land  of  the  South,  even  the 
land  of  Sheba.” 

The  fairest  virgins  of  the  land,  daughters 
of  nobles  and  princes,  daughters  of  the  kings 
of  the  earth,  and  reigning  queens  counted 
themselves  happy  to  be  numbered  among  the 
wives  of  Solomon.  And  all  the  wives  of 
Solomon  even  all  the  daughters  of  Mt.  Zion 
joined  in  a  carol  of  exultation  as  they  were 
wont  to  do  when  the  king  took  unto  himself 
a  new  wife,  when  the  Queen  of  the  South 
became  the  wife  of  the  great  king  of  Israel. 


1 84  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

And  this  is  the  voice  of  jubilee  that  came 
forth  from  the  daughters  of  the  palace  of 
king  Solomon: 

“Go  forth,  O  ye  daughters  of  Zion,  and  be¬ 
hold  king  Solomon, 

With  the  crown  wherewith  his  mother  hath 
crowned  him  in  the  day  of  his  espousals, 
And  in  the  day  of  the  gladness  of  his  heart.” 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM 


A  MAIDEN  with  her  raven  hair  hang¬ 
ing  loose  about  her  shoulders  with 
snappy,  sparkling  black  eyes  beneath  the 
ringlets  of  her  tresses  half  concealing  her 
swarthy  brow  sits  at  the  side  of  a  sturdy  lad 
whose  skin  is  scorched  from  the  burning  sun 
and  whose  coarse  hair-garments  smell  of  the 
field  and  of  the  flock,  earnestly  conversing  to¬ 
gether  of  things  close  to  the  heart.  At  the 
side  of  the  hill  the  pomegranate-tree  beneath 
which  they  are  seated  protects  them  from  the 
fiery  heat  of  the  mid-day  sun. 

“Thine  eyes,  my  love,”  said  the  sturdy  lad 
of  the  hills,  “are  as  doves  beneath  thy  tres¬ 
ses.” 

“My  beloved,  I  am  free  from  David’s 
harem,”  answered  the  maiden  wishing  to  ac¬ 
knowledge  the  praise  of  her  lover  but  scarcely 
knowing  how  to  frame  it.  “I  take  delight 
in  thy  coarse  garments  and  the  smell  of  the 
field — even  the  smell  of  the  flocks.” 

Then  was  the  lover  thrilled  and  he  could 

185 


1 8  6 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


not  find  words  to  praise  her  beauty  but  spake, 
saying,  “Thou  art  all  fair,  my  love.  And 
there  is  no  spot  in  thee.” 

Then  was  the  maiden  caught  up  in  the 
ecstasy  of  delight  in  the  spirit  of  one  who 
loved  her  so  completely,  and  exclaimed: 
“Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth, 
where  thou  feedest  thy  flock,  where  thou 
makest  it  to  rest  at  noon?” 

Then  did  he  reply  in  great  joy,  saying, 
“My  flock  feedeth  among  the  lilies,  my  love.” 

At  this  saying  he  threw  his  strong  arms 
about  her  shoulders  and  drew  her  to  his 
bosom.  With  her  head  resting  on  his  bosom 
and  her  snappy,  black  eyes  looking  up  direct 
into  his  she  spoke,  saying,  “I  will  go  forth 
by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock,  and  feed  thy 
kids  beside  the  shepherd’s  tents.” 

“But  thy  mother,”  replied  the  youth  ten¬ 
derly,  “who  will  comfort  and  be  a  companion 
unto  her,  my  love?  Her  sorrow  was  bitter 
while  thou  wast  at  the  court  of  David.” 

“True,  my  beloved,”  quietly  spoke  the 
maiden,  “mother  was  fearful  even  of  the 
harem  of  David  though  the  king  was  old  and 
near  death.  But  it  will  comfort  her  heart 
and  make  her  glad  to  know  that  I  am  with 
thee  among  the  flocks  that  feed  along  the 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  187 


hills  back  of  the  orchards  of  Shunem.” 

Then  the  youth  smiled  as  he  said:  “Tarry 
with  her,  my  love,  till  I  lead  my  flocks  to 
feed  among  the  lilies  back  of  the  pomegran¬ 
ates.” 

“But,  my  beloved,”  the  maiden  protested, 
“I  will  go  with  thee  that  no  hurt  befall  the 
kids  by  the  way.” 

Then  was  the  lover  vehemently  earnest, 
saying,  “Thou  art  fair,  my  love,  there  is  no 
spot  in  thee.  But  the  thorns  are  too  many, 
and  the  hills  are  too  steep.” 

“I  can  carry  the  kids  over  the  sharp  rough 
places,”  said  the  maiden  calmly  as  though  she 
did  not  notice  that  the  earnest  plea  of  her 
beloved  was  in  her  own  behalf.  Then  sud¬ 
denly  her  manner  became  decisive  as  she 
said:  “I  will  go  where  thou  feedest  thy  flock. 
Did  not  Adonijah  the  son  of  David  and 
?” 

•  •  •  • 

“But,  my  love,”  quickly  interfered  the 
youth,  “thou  must  not  fear  Solomon  the  king 
for  he  is  a  wise  man  and  he  knows  that  David 
his  father  has  granted  to  thee  thy  freedom 
because  of  thy  faithfulness  to  him  in  his  last 
days.  Besides  he  has  married  king’s  daugh¬ 
ters  and  queens  as  his  heart  desireth.” 

Then  was  the  maiden  quick  to  speak  as  a 


1 88  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

blush  rested  on  her  swarthy  cheek:  “Yea,  the 
fairest  of  the  land  also.  What  fair  daughter 
in  Israel  is  not  sought  out  for  the  king’s 
harem?  How  many  maidens  have  forgot¬ 
ten  their  lovers  among  the  hills  of  Galilee 
in  the  garish  light  of  the  harem  of  Solomon? 
But,  O  my  beloved,  thou  art  the  chiefest 
among  ten  thousand.” 

At  this  saying  his  praise  became  profusive 
repeating:  “Thou  art  fair,  my  love,  and  there 
is  no  spot  in  thee.  Come,  let  us  go  to  the 
house  of  thy  mother  to  tell  her  that  we  go  to 
lead  the  flocks  to  feed  among  the  lilies  back 
of  the  pomegranate  orchard — even  back  of 
the  vineyard  which  thy  hands  have  kept.” 

Then  embracing  he  kissed  her  for  his  love 
to  her  was  better  than  wine,  and  his  name 
sweeter  than  oils  poured  forth  having  a  good¬ 
ly  fragrance. 

The  House  Back  of  Shunem 

“So  long,  daughter,  time  is  so  long — moth¬ 
er  has  such  need  of  thee,”  mildly  spake  the 
mother  who  could  not  be  severe  though  left 
alone  an  unusual  length  of  time. 

“Mother,  my  beloved  and  I  have  been 
talking  of  things  very  sacred  to  our  hearts. 


AMONG  THE  FULLS  OF  SHUNEM  189 

Thou  knowest,  mother?” 

“My  child,  I  know  all  about  it,”  said  the 
mother  as  she  wiped  a  tear  from  her  cheek 
and  kissed  her  daughter  as  she  stood  there 
exceedingly  beautiful. 

“Mother,  my  beloved  and  I  would  go  over 
the  hills  and  lead  the  flocks  to  feed  among 
the  lilies  back  of  the  pomegranate  orchard.” 

The  maiden  could  get  no  further  than  a 
statement  of  their  purpose  as  her  heart  was 
too  full  and  her  throat  was  stifled  because  of 
emotion  of  the  anguish  for  her  fond  mother. 
As  those  eyes  of  mother  melted  into  tears  and 
that  tender  face  broke  up  because  of  the  full 
measure  of  devotion  for  that  daughter,  neither 
could  find  words  for  expression.  At  length 
mother  said  in  a  broken  voice: 

“Daughter,  since  it  must  be  so  let  it  be  as 
thou  hast  said.” 

As  the  mother  spake  she  took  her  arm  from 
her  daughter’s  neck. 

“1  hen  thou  wilt  let  me  go  with  my  be¬ 
loved,  mother?”  said  the  maiden  half  doubt¬ 
ing  the  propriety  of  the  question.  “Dear 
mother,  thou  knowest  that  King  David  de¬ 
creed  that  I  should  be  free  to  return  to  the 
hills  again.  As  my  beloved  leadeth  the  flocks 
I  will  care  for  the  tender  kids  till  we  come 


190 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


to  the  pastures  among  the  lilies  back  of  the 
pomegranate  orchard  when  I  will  come  and 
dwell  with  thee — even  with  my  beloved  will 
we  come  and  pave  thy  dwelling  with  love.” 

“Go,  my  daughter,  do  as  thou  hast  said.” 
The  mother’s  eyes  glistened  in  tears  as  her 
heart  spoke  a  more  profound  sentence  than 
ever  lips  could  utter.  She  cruelly  crushed 
her  heart  to  grant  her  daughter  the  request. 
The  lover  and  the  maiden  sat  in  the  spell  of 
the  mother’s  broken  heart.  It  had  been  brok¬ 
en  when  David  took  her  daughter  from  her 
bosom  and  it  could  not  endure  this  moderate 
demand  to  grant  even  a  brief  leave  of  ab¬ 
sence. 

Then  did  the  maiden  spring  from  the  side 
of  her  lover  and  clasp  her  mother  to  her 
bosom,  saying  mid  tears:  “Mother,  I  will  not 
go — but  will  wait  with  thee  till  my  beloved 
returns  from  the  hills  with  his  flocks  and  he 
come  and  dwell  with  us  as  the  sheep  feed 
among  the  lilies  back  of  the  pomegranates.” 

“Thou  hast  well  said,  my  love,”  spoke  her 
beloved  with  a  divine  reverence  in  his  voice. 
“I  will  hasten  to  the  hills  and  will  see  to  it 
that  the  tender  kids  are  well  cared  for  even 
for  thy  sake,  my  love,  and  will  lead  the  flocks 
to  feed  among  the  lilies— even  to  the  pastures 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  19 1 


back-  of  the  budding  vines  of  our  vineyard.” 

Then  the  youth  turned  his  large  full  eyes 
on  the  maiden’s  snappy  black  eyes,  saying, 
“Fare  thee  well,  my  love,  may  the  Lord  lift 
up  his  countenance  upon  thee  and  bless  thee.” 

Then  was  the  maiden  troubled,  and  she 
prayed  in  the  face  of  the  benediction  but 
never  removing  her  eyes  from  the  deep  pierc¬ 
ing  eye  of  her  lover. 

“May  the  Lord  grant  me  strength  this  hour, 
my  beloved,  to  let  thee  go.  But  oh!  if - .” 

The  sun-scorched  shepherd  caught  the 
maiden  in  his  arms  and  covered  her  lips  with 
kisses.  As  he  left  her  standing  by  her  mother 
and  taking  hold  of  the  latch  of  the  door  she 
covered  her  face  as  the  mother  prayed  a  bene¬ 
diction  upon  him,  saying, 

“The  Lord  bless  thee,  and  keep  thee; 

The  Lord  make  his  face  to  shine  upon  thee, 
and  be  gracious  unto  thee; 

The  Lord  lift  up  his  countenance  upon  thee, 
and  give  thee  peace.” 

In  the  Garden  of  Nuts 

Graceful  curving  hills  terraced  with  vines 
covered  with  purple  buds  and  nooks  and  hoi- 


192 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


lows  graced  with  pomegranates  shooting  forth 
tender  branches  scarlet  with  flowers  along 
with  the  green  plants  carpeting  the  undulat¬ 
ing  surface  of  the  valley  form  the  goodly 
garden  back  of  Shunem.  A  maiden  with  her 
great  raven  tresses  floating  in  the  soft  exhilar¬ 
ating  air  of  Springtime  comes  tripping  into 
this  beauty  singing  to  him  who  has  gone  over 
the  hills  to  lead  his  flock  to  feed  among  the 
lilies  back  of  this  garden.  Entering  the  gar¬ 
den  of  nuts  her  eye  catches  sight  of  the  green 
plants  carpeting  the  floor  of  the  valley,  and 
instinctively  lifting  her  eyes  to  the  hills  ter¬ 
raced  with  budding  vines  she  is  thrilled  mid 
a  shower  of  scarlet  pomegranate  flowers  as 
the  breeze  murmurs  through  the  trees.  Whis¬ 
pering  softly  so  as  not  to  detract  from  the  ex¬ 
quisite  music  that  is  flowing  so  freely  from 
nature,  she  sings: 

“I  went  down  into  the  garden  of  nuts, 

To  see  the  green  plants  of  the  valley, 

To  see  whether  the  vine  budded, 

And  the  pomegranates  were  in  flower.” 

As  she  hums  this  in  the  delight  of  her  soul 
suddenly  her  face  looms  up  radiant  as  the  very 
secret  of  her  soul  is  beaming  with  an  irrepres- 


193 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM 

sible  joy.  Then  she  sings  softly  for  there 
is  none  save  her  glad  heart  to  hear,  and  what 
is  sweeter  to  her  soul  than  this  melody? 
Would  not  the  purple  bud  of  the  grape  burst 
open  into  luscious  fruit  of  the  vine?  Yes, 
would  the  scarlet  flowers  of  the  pomegranate 
suddenly  embrace  into  its  bosom  the  red  fruit 
with  the  deep  crimson  juicy  seed  which  brings 
delight  to  the  parched  mouth  of  the  weary? 
Even  there  the  budding  and  flowering  of  her 
soul  quickly  embrace  the  full  fruit  of  the 
vine  and  the  pomegranate  that  would  delight 
and  satisfy  the  ravished  heart  of  her  beloved. 

“I  am  my  beloved’s,”  is  the  note  of  song  as 
she  lifts  her  countenance  beaming  with  smiles 
to  the  hills,  “And  his  desire  is  toward  me.” 

Skipping  lightly  she  suddenly  catches  her¬ 
self  casting  a  longing  eye  over  the  hills 
whither  her  beloved  has  gone,  and  lowering 
her  eyes  she  surveys  the  terraced  budding 
vines  all  purple,  and  rich  flowering  pome¬ 
granates  all  scarlet  continuing  her  melodv 
softly: 

Let  us  get  up  early  to  the  vineyards  * 

Let  us  see  whether  the  vine  hath  budded,  and 
its  blossom  is  open, 

And  the  pomegranates  are  in  flower.” 


194 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Here  for  a  moment  her  voice  is  hushed  as 
she  drops  her  eyes  and  quickly  lifting  them 
she  surveys  the  beauty  about  her  and  stretch¬ 
ing  forth  both  her  arms  sings  more  softly  and 
tenderly  than  ever: 

“There  will  I  give  thee  my  love.” 

V 

In  the  beauty  of  perfection  even  exceeding 
that  of  the  faultless  integrity  of  the  land¬ 
scape  in  the  midst  of  the  budding  of  vines 
and  the  flowering  of  pomegranates  love  gush¬ 
es  forth  and  tongues  that  express  a  thousand 
unspoken  words  are  in  the  tender  green  plant, 
the  purple  bud  of  the  vine,  and  the  deep  rich 
scarlet  flower  of  the  pomegranate.  As  every¬ 
thing  is  radiant  her  soul  is  filled  with  a  deep 
understanding  of  the  language  that  a  thou¬ 
sand  things  were  speaking — the  language  of  a 
deeply  conceived  love.  It  must  bring  forth 
in  due  season  a  product  of  rich  ripe  fruit  that 
supply  the  generation  of  men  and  women 
with  those  things  needful. 

As  she  muses  her  soul  is  caught  up  into  an 
ecstasy  of  supreme  delight.  The  soft  breezes 
from  the  hills  scented  with  fragrance  of  blos¬ 
soms  seem  whispering  all  the  while  that  they 
had  played  mid  the  dancing  sunbeams  all  the 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  195 


way  from  the  place  where  he  stood  in  the 
midst  of  his  flocks — even  from  the  paths  of 
the  valley  of  the  great  hills.  Even  as  she 
breathes  deeply  of  the  soft  breezes  she  catches 
the  wild  scent  of  the  field,  yea  more,  she 
smells  the  very  smell  of  the  flock.  Then  is 
her  soul  a  well  of  delight.  She  inclines  her 
ear  to  the  breezes  listening  as  though  catch¬ 
ing  faint  sounds  from  over  the  hills.  Ller 
whole  attitude  is  bent  to  get  the  faint  re- 
ceeding  echo. 

“Thou  art  fair,  O  my  love,  as  Tirzah, 

Comely  as  Jerusalem.” 

Startled  she  turned,  and  was  about  to  flee 
as  a  louder  note  pierced  the  air  before  her 
and  a  princely  voice  spake,  saying, 

“Terrible  as  an  army  with  banners.” 

Stopping  short  and  looking  directly  ahead 
she  saw  in  the  distance  in  the  way  of  the  wil¬ 
derness  like  unto  great  pillars  of  smoke.  The 
air  is  ladened  with  perfume  of  myrrh  and 
frankincense — of  all  the  powders  of  the  mer¬ 
chants.  A  shower  of  scarlet  pomegranate 


196  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


flowers  fell  over  and  about  her  for  the  wind 
was  stronger — now  coming  from  the  wilder¬ 
ness.  Impulsively  she  exclaimed: 

“Who  is  this  that  comes  up  from  the  wilder¬ 
ness  like  pillars  of  smoke, 

Perfumed  with  myrrh  and  frankincense, 
With  all  the  powders  of  the  merchants?” 

Seized  with  terror  she  started  back  crying 
aloud : 

“Behold,  it  is  the  litter  of  Solomon!” 

Standing  in  the  midst  of  the  royal  chariots 
she  fastened  her  large  piercing  black  eyes 
upon  the  eyes  of  Solomon  the  king. 

The  daughters  of  Zion  accompanying  king 
Solomon  in  his  royal  train  in  his  journey  to 
the  garden  of  Shunem,  thereupon,  shouted 
with  one  voice : 

“Who  is  she  that  looketh  forth  as  the  morn¬ 

ing, 

Fair  as  the  moon, 

Clear  as  the  sun, 

Terrible  as  an  army  with  banners?” 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM 


197 


Threescore  mighty  men — the  mighty  men 
of  Israel  were  about  the  litter  of  Solomon. 
They  all  handled  the  sword  and  were  valiant 

in  war.  Every  man  had  his  sword  upon  his 
thigh. 

King  Solomon’s  palanquin  was  made  of 
the  wood  of  Lebanon.  The  pillars  thereof 
were  of  silver,  the  bottom  of  gold  and  seat 
of  purple.  The  midst  thereof  was  paved  with 
love — even  love  of  the  daughters  of  Jerusa¬ 
lem. 

Even  while  the  royal  ladies  heaped  un¬ 
stinted  praise  upon  her,  the  Shulammite  stood 
in  the  midst  of  the  elegance  and  grandeur  of 
the  king’s  chariots  dejected  and  sad.  Her 
eyes  were  now  fixed  upon  the  crimson  frag¬ 
ments  of  the  pomegranate  flowers  at  her  feet. 
How  like  her  shattered  heart — all  crimson 
stained!  As  she  slowly  lifted  those  great  sad 
eyes  from  the  crimson  fragments  to  the  paint¬ 
ed  eyes  of  the  daughters  of  the  royal  palace 
fawning  upon  her,  she  meekly  implored  them 
to  spare  her. 

“Why  will  you  look  upon  the  Shulammite? 
Behold  you  see — a  rustic  maiden!  Mine  are 
these  orchards  and  fields — even  these  hills 
are  my  high  towers.  The  thorn-bush  by  the 
path  of  the  valley  is  the  delight  of  mine  eye. 


198  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


i 


‘Bless  the  Lord,  O  my  soul ; 

And  all  that  is  within  me,  bless  his  holy  named 

“Therefore,  I  entreat  you,  O  daughters  of 
Jerusalem,  let  me  have  these  mine  own — even 
to  this  garden  of  nuts.  Your  pleasure  is  the 
palace  and  the  king  is  your  delight,  O  daugh¬ 
ters  of  Zion.  The  love  of  my  delight  is  in 
the  midst  of  the  lambs  skipping  among  the 
lilies  back  of  the  flowering  pomegranates.” 

Then  was  she  transfigured  and  exceedingly 
beautiful  to  look  upon — her  piercing  eyes 
searching  every  face  as  they  searched  hers  in 
turn. 

Then  was  the  king  overwhelmed  by  the 
floods  of  passion,  and  at  the  impulse  of  ec¬ 
stasy  he  cried  aloud,  saying: 

“This  thy  stature  is  like  to  a  palmtree, 

And  thy  breasts  to  its  clusters.” 

Even  while  the  king  was  speaking  the 
Shulammite  fastened  her  large  piercing  eyes 
upon  his.  It  seemed  as  though  some  mighty 
unseen  power  had  gathered  her  up  into  an 
angelic  self-possession.  Her  piercing  glance 
thrust  through  the  heart  of  Solomon.  The 
great  king  of  all  Israel  who  could  command 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  199 


the  resources  of  a  people  sat  in  the  seat  of 
purple  of  his  royal  palanquin  whose  floor  was 
gold  the  midst  thereof  being  paved  with  the 
love  of  the  daughters  of  Zion — even  Solomon 
sat  in  the  midst  of  power  and  luxury  con¬ 
quered  and  helpless.  Effort  after  effort  to 
extricate  himself  proved  vain.  In  sheer  mad¬ 
ness  he  cried  out : 

“Turn  away  thine  eyes  from  me, 

For  they  have  overcome  me.” 

Then  did  a  heavenly  light  shine  from  the 
face  of  the^  maiden  as  she  turned  her  eyes 
away  from  the  king  to  the  hills — even  to  the 
hills  beyond  the  ridges  purple  with  budding 
vines.  Rough  clusters  of  bushes  filled  the 
hollows  of  these  great  hills  marking  the  quag¬ 
mires  of  winter  rains,  but  the  feet  of  him 
who  leads  the  flock  to  feed  among  the  lilies 
back  of  the  orchard  have  paved  these  crude 
paths  with  love  for  the  maiden  of  Shunem. 

Relieved  of  the  grip  of  those  penetrating 
eyes  the  king  set  himself  to  praise  her  charms, 
saying: 

“Thy  hair  is  like  a  flock  of  goats, 

That  lie  along  the  side  of  Gilead. 


200 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Thy  teeth  are  like  a  flock  of  ewes. 
Which  are  come  up  from  the  washing  ; 
Whereof  everyone  hath  twins, 

And  none  is  bereaved  among  them.” 

All  this  while  the  Shulammite  had  stood  be¬ 
fore  the  king  unveiled  so  unawares  had  she 
been  taken  in  the  midst  of  the  vineyard  and 
pomegranate  garden.  This  profuse  praise  of 
her  hair  and  teeth  brought  her  to  a  conscious¬ 
ness  of  being  unveiled  in  the  presence  of  the 
king  and  the  princely  people.  As  she  mod¬ 
estly  drew  her  veil  over  her  face  the  king 
continued  with  a  glow  of  eloquence  : 

Thy  temples  are  like  a  piece  of  pome¬ 
granate — 

Behind  thy  veil, 

There  are  threescore  queens,  and  fourscore 
concubines, 

And  virgins  without  number. 

My  dove,  my  undefiled,  is  but  one; 

She  is  the  only  one  of  her  mother; 

She  is  the  choice  one  of  her  that  bare  her.” 

At  that  instant  turning  his  eyes  to  the 
queens  and  princely  women  of  the  company 
the  king  continued  her  praise,  saying: 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  201 


“The  daughters  saw  her,  and  called  her 
blessed : 

Yea,  the  queens,  and  the  concubines,  and  they 
praised  her.” 

At  this  saying  of  the  king  the  royal  ladies 
extend  an  invitation  to  the  maiden  standing 
in  the  midst  of  the  broken  crimson  flowers  to 
join  them — even  to  enter  King  Solomon’s 
harem,  and  share  the  glory  with  kings’  daugh¬ 
ters  and  queens.  The  invitation  is  pressing 
as  the  voices  of  the  daughters  of  Zion  are 
caught  up  in  a  slight  breeze  out  of  the  north 
bringing  with  it  the  smell  of  the  fields  of 
Springtime  sweeping  away  even  the  fragrance 
of  the  spices  of  the  royal  company: 

“Return,  return,  O  Shulammite; 

Return,  return,  that  we  may  look  upon  thee.” 

Then  was  the  Shulammite  at  a  loss  to  know 
where  to  resort  for  safety.  Somehow  she  felt 
the  forces  pulling  and  compelling  her  in  spite 
of  her  noble  stand  and  her  unswerving  fidel¬ 
ity  to  the  one  who  was  leading  his  flock  some¬ 
where  among  the  hills  beyond  the  pome¬ 
granate  orchard.  Being  exasperated  by  their 
persistent  insistence  that  she  give  her  love  to 


202 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Solomon  the  king  she  put  her  refusal  in  the 
question  that  should  make  it  final,  saying: 

“Why  will  ye  look  upon  the  Shulammite?” 

But  the  queens  have  no  thought  of  giving 
up,  neither  has  Solomon  any  notion  of  mak¬ 
ing  surrender  at  this  point.  She  must  come 
to  the  palace.  The  king  is  sure  when  she 
dances  there  mid  the  splendor  of  unprece¬ 
dented  wealth  that  she  will  change  her  heart 
as  well  as  her  mind  and  give  him  her  love 
without  reserve.  The  attitude  of  the  minds 
of  the  king  and  the  queens  are  at  one  here, 
and  the  queens  answer  that  desperate  refusal, 
saying: 

“Return,  return,  O  Shulammite; 

Return,  return,  that  we  may  look  upon  thee. 
We  would  see  thee  dance — we  would  look 
upon  thee  as  upon  the  dance  of  Mahan- 
aim. 

Not  waiting  her  further  protest  the  king 
commanded  Benaiah  the  son  of  Jehoiada, 
and  he  placed  her  in  the  seat  of  the  royal  car 
at  the  side  of  Solomon. 

With  music  and  great  rejoicing  the  royal 


AMONG  THE  HILLS  OF  SHUNEM  203 


train  crossed  the  sprawling  plains  passing  the 
frowning  brow  of  Gilboa  into  the  gateway  of 
Dothan,  threading  its  way  through  the  hills 
of  Ephraim  by  the  way  of  Shechem.  As  they 
drew  nigh  unto  Bethel  all  the  noted  minstrels 
of  Mt.  Zion  came  to  meet  the  royal  company, 
and  men  skilled  in  psalms  made  the  air  one 
great  melody.  The  multitude  joined  the  royal 
train  and  made  merry  as  King  Solomon  en¬ 
ters  the  gates  of  Jerusalem  with  the  choice 
of  his  espousals  at  his  side. 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


Scene  in  the  Royal  Harem 

THE  delicate  hands  of  the  fairest  maidens 
of  the  daughters  of  Zion  were  busy  tas¬ 
tily  arranging  the  dress  and  braiding  the  hair 
of  the  rustic  girl  of  Shunem  as  she  stood  in  the 
midst  of  the  purple  and  richly  decorated 
room  of  the  daughters  of  Jerusalem.  Every 
possible  skill  of  feminine  ingenuity  was  sum¬ 
moned  to  decorate  her  to  the  very  best  ad¬ 
vantage  when  she  should  appear  at  the  wed- 
ding  feast  of  King  Solomon.  The  bride  was 
to  be  adorned  for  her  husband  as  no  other 
bride  on  earth  had  the  privilege  of  being 
beautified.  -As  the  great  raven  hair  swung 
loose  over  her  shoulders  and  the  garments  of 
the  richest  purple  fell  about  her  infolding 
clusters  of  henna-flowers  and  smelling  of 
choice  spikenard  and  beaded  with  lines  of 
precious  stones  glittering  from  her  breasts 
as  well  as  from  her  fair  and  graceful  neck, 
her  face  beamed  with  a  crimson  angelic  sweet- 

204 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


205 


ness;  and  as  her  lips  moved  the  maidens  who 
were  at  their  best  adorning  her  for  the  royal 
bridegroom  blushed  as  they  heard  her  whis¬ 
per: 

“Let  him  kiss  me  with  the  kisses  of  his 
mouth” ; 

Thereupon  every  hand  left  off  decorating 
and  every  eye  was  turned  to  the  great  royal 
archway  which  was  decorated  with  pomegran¬ 
ate-flowers  and  henna-flowers  to  see  King 
Solomon  enter.  But  as  they  saw  not  the  king 
they  looked  into  her  modest  face  beaming  mid 
blushes  and  resumed  the  work  of  their  Angers. 
But  the  maiden  was  looking  far  away  into 
the  North  as  the  radiance  intensifled  her  coun¬ 
tenance  tenfold.  Her  voice  became  rich  and 
full  as  she  sang  out  of  her  affections: 

“For  thy  love  is  better  than  wine.” 

Now  in  her  vision  she  saw  the  sheep  among 
the  lilies  and  the  shepherd — she  saw  him 
tenderly  lift  the  very  young  to  the  shade  of 
the  pomegranate  tree  and  place  them  on  a 
bed  of  crimson. 

Even  as  the  eyes  with  a  far  away  gaze 
sparkle  with  the  vision  three  queens  enter  to 
inspect  the  apparel  of  the  Shulammite  that 


20  6 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


there  be  no  fault  and  that  the  daintiness  and 
taste  win  the  approval  of  Solomon  and  de¬ 
light  the  eye  of  the  king. 

In  the  exuberance  of  delight  the  Queen  of 
Tyre  exclaimed: 

“Thine  oils  have  a  goodly  fragrance,  fairest 
of  women;  thou  shalt  delight  the  soul  of 
the  great  king — even  the  soul  of  Solo¬ 
mon.” 

* 

“O  Shulammite,”  spake  the  Queen  of  Sy¬ 
ria,  “thy  name  is  sweet — is  as  the  oil  of  spik¬ 
enard  poured  forth.  The  mention  of  thy 
name  thrills  every  cell  of  Solomon’s  body 
with  delight.  Thy  form  entices  the  king  and 
the  grace  of  thy  figure  has  captured  the  king’s 
eye,  and  therefore  it  is  well  that  thou  art 
faultlessly  arrayed.” 

As  though  to  make  sure  she  touched  the 
fold  of  the  Shulammite’s  robe  which  was 
full  of  henna-flowers  and  goodly  myrrh. 

“Therefore,’1  broke  in  the  Queen  of  Egypt 
— Solomon’s  choice  wife,  to  sum  up  all  and 
give  sanction  to  the  entire  judgment  ren¬ 
dered,  “do  the  virgins  love  thee,  O  thou  fair¬ 
est  among  women!” 

But  there  was  a  painful  joy  in  the  face  of 
the  Shulammite  as  she  stood  there  in  the 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


207 


praise  of  her  beauty.  She  scarcely  heard  a 
word  they  said,  for  she  answered  a  love  far 
away  among  the  hills  of  Shunem  though  the 
queens  flattered  themselves  that  she  answered 
them  and  the  object  of  their  praise — even 
Solomon  as  they  heard  the  maiden  speak 
softly: 

“Draw  me.”  The  wistful  gaze  of  the 
Shulammite  was  far  away. 

“We  will  run  after  thee!”  shouted  the 
queens,  for  it  were  as  though  love  was  trans¬ 
lating  her  out  of  their  presence. 

But  she  would  have  none  of  them  touch 
her  while  caught  up  in  the  spirit  of  the 
holy  thing,  and  gazing  more  intensely  into 
the  north  she  struggled  to  explain  her  situa¬ 
tion  to  the  one  she  saw  in  her  vision  tenderly 
lifting  the  kids  for  her  sake  to  the  shade  of 
the  pomegranate  tree  that  they  might  lie 
softly  in  the  midst  of  the  scarlet  flowers,  as 
in  a  voice  mellow  in  the  sorrow  of  a  divine 
joy  she  said: 

“The  king  hath  brought  me  into  his  cham¬ 
bers.” 

Then  did  the  three  queens  speak  with  one 
voice  as  though  they  would  help  her  in  speak- 


208 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


ing  of  the  joy  of  the  love  that  Solomon  had 
bestowed  upon  her: 

“W e  will  be  glad  and  rejoice  in  thee: 

We  will  make  mention  of  thy  love  more  than 
of  wine.” 

Then  was  the  Shulammite  bewildered  and 
perplexed,  for  every  word  uttered  by  her  was 
turned  by  these  three  queens  to  the  favor  of 
Solomon.  At  a  loss  to  know  what  to  say  in  her 
own  defense  she  sought  to  turn  their  minds 
from  her  by  saying — 

“Why  should  Solomon  and  his  royal  people^ 
look  upon  the  Shulammite,  because  I 
am - ” 

The  three  queens  would  suffer  her  to  go 
on  further,  but  with  a  decided  voice  broke 
in  upon  her  speaking,  saying: 

“Rightly  do  they  love  thee.” 

Thereupon  did  the  Shulammite  protest 
and  plead  at  the  selfsame  time,  saying: 

“I  am  black.” 

The  royal  ladies  flash  back:  “But  comely.” 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE  2oc 

Thereupon  the  Shulammite  expostulated: 

“O  ye  daughters  of  Jerusalem!” 

But  they  seek  to  explain  the  reasonable¬ 
ness  of  their  assertion  by  saying  it  thus: 

“Black,  but  comely, 

As  the  tents  of  Kedar, 

As  the  curtains  of  Solomon.” 

At  this  juncture  the  fairest  of  the  royal 
ladies  lifted  the  veil  of  the  rustic  maiden 
which  the  latter  had  drawn  down  to  conceal 
her  face  from  further  comment  or  praise. 

This  brought  about  a  stern  protest  from  the 
maiden : 

“Look  not  upon  me,  because  I  am  swarthy, 
Because  the  sun  hath  scorched  me. 

My  mother’s  sons  were  incensed  against  me; 
They  made  me  keeper  of  the  vineyards; 

But  mine  own  vineyard  have  I  not  kept.” 

Even  as  she  speaks  these  words  she  bows 
her  head  and  the  queens  turn  away  from  her 
lest  Solomon  find  her  beauty  marred  and 
accuse  them  of  infidelity.  Their  every  ef- 


210 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


fort  seemed  to  make  matters  worse  for  the 
king.  As  they  are  about  to  withdraw  she 
moans : 

“Tell  me,  O  thou  whom  my  soul  loveth,” 

At  this  the  queens  who  are  about  to  go  out 
of  the  door  of  the  apartment  linger  though 
they  understood  plainly  they  were  curious 
to  learn  more.  As  they  tarry  she  continues: 

“Where  thou  feedest  thy  flock, 

Where  thou  makest  it  to  rest  at  noon : 

For  why  should  I  be  as  one  that  is  veiled 
Beside  the  flocks  of  thy  companions?” 

The  thing  is  said.  They  can’t  mistake  her. 
Solomon  is  not  a  shepherd  feeding  a  flock  and 
making  it  to  rest  at  noon.  The  king  of  Israel 
has  not  keepers  of  flocks  as  his  companions. 
Yet  the  one  whom  this  Shulammite  loves  is 
keeping  his  flock.  Where  she  knows  not, 
for  she  thinks  of  herself  as  one  veiled  beside 
the  flocks  of  his  companions.  This  the  queens 
understand  and  the  more  keenly  they  realize 
it  the  more  bitter  they  become  to  a  love  that 
can  remain  constant  to  one  who  is  so  com¬ 
mon  and  counts  for  so  little  in  the  world  of 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


21  I 


men  of  affairs.  If  she  will  allow  her  love 
to  be  wasted  on  such  a  meaningless  youth 
when  she  can  lavish  it  upon  Solomon  the 
king,  the  queens  regard  it  cheap  sentiment 
worthy  only  of  ridicule  and  contempt.  So 
culling  her  words  as  closely  as  possible  in 
bitter  irony  they  reply — even  mocking  at  the 
fond  longing  of  the  Shulammite’s  love: 

“If  thou  know  not,  O  thou  fairest  among 
women, 

Go  thy  way  forth  by  the  footsteps  of  the  flock, 
And  feed  thy  kids  beside  the  shepherd’s  tents.” 

Scarcely  had  the  queens  made  an  end  of 
mocking  than  the  king  entered.  He  com¬ 
manded  and  the  veil  was  lifted.  As  he  looked 
into  the  face  of  the  rustic  girl,  beautiful  for 
affection,  a  thrill  was  in  his  every  cell,  and  he 
was  ravished  by  an  uncontrollable  passion  as 
his  eye  rested  on  the  graceful  figure  of  this 
daughter  of  the  garden  of  nuts.  In  the  sweep¬ 
ing  force  of  an  irresistible  affection,  the  king 
poured  forth  unstinted  praise  of  the  beauty 
of  this  daughter  of  Shunem: 

“I  have  compared  thee  O  my  love, 

To  a  steed  in  Pharaoh’s  chariots. 


2  12 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Thy  cheeks  are  comely  with  plaits  of  hair, 
Thy  neck  with  strings  of  jewels.” 

As  she  was  modestly  casting  down  her 
eyes  Solomon  placed  an  exquisite,  dainty 
headgear  of  gold  upon  the  plaits  of  raven  hair 
and  stooping  stole  a  kiss  from  her  lips,  saying: 

aWe  will  make  thee  plaits  of  gold  with  studs 
of  silver.” 

Then  did  he  caress  her  gently  as  one  of  the 
king’s  most  noble  servants  poured  oils  of  good¬ 
ly  fragrance  over  her  rich  suit  of  thick  raven 
hair.  She  seemed  to  let  herself  go  for  the  first 
time.  Solomon  could  scarcely  bring  himself  to 
realize  that  the  victory  was  his.  Gently  borne 
up  by  his  arm  the  great  king  of  Israel  led  his 
Shulammite  bride  to  the  large  banqueting  hall 
in  the  midst  of  the  palace.  There  were  the 
noblest  of  his  wives  and  the  very  chiefest  of 
the  valiant  men  and  their  wives  awaiting  his 
coming.  As  the  royal  couple  entered  the 
apartment  every  queen  and  king’s  daughter 
along  with  the  great  men  of  valor  did  obeis¬ 
ance,  and  led  by  the  Queen  of  Egypt  the 
daughters  of  Zion  sang  the  praises  of  the 
beauty  of  the  bride  and  made  merry  with 
shouts  of  joy  before  King  Solomon,  saying: 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


213 


“Go  forth,  O  ye  daughters  of  Zion,  and  behold 
King  Solomon, 

With  the  crown  wherewith  his  mother  hath 
crowned  him  in  the  day  of  his  espousals, 
And  in  the  day  of  the  gladness  of  his  heart.” 

The  Banquet  of  Solomon 

The  trimmings  of  the  table  of  the  king 
were  the  best  that  Sheba  and  Tarshish  could 
furnish.  Upon  napkins  of  deep  purple  were 
placed  drinking  cups  of  gold.  In  the  cup 
of  the  bride  was  fixed  a  blood-red  ruby 
whose  excellence  was  equal  to  the  great  gem 
in  the  king’s  cup.  He  permitted  nothing  that 
was  to  grace  her  plate  to  be  in  any  wise  in¬ 
ferior  to  that  at  his  own.  He  was  jealous  to 
see  to  it  that  not  a  single  prince  or  a  queen  got 
anything  that  could  compare  in  value  and  ex¬ 
cellence  to  that  bestowed  upon  the  bride  from 
the  gardens  of  Shunem.  The  choice  of  the 
tender  of  the  flocks  besides  harts,  gazelles,  roe¬ 
bucks,  and  fatted  fowls  along  with  the  best  of 
the  fruits  of  the  land  and  the  most  excellent 
of  other  lands — even  choice  fruit  of  distant 
Sheba,  went  to  make  up  the  menu  of  the  mar¬ 
riage  feast  of  King  Solomon  and  the  Shulam- 
mite.  As  the  king  looked  upon  this,  the  choice 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


214 

of  his  espousals,  he  quietly  spoke — his  words 
softening  almost  in  silence  of  whisper  and  yet 

heard  by  all  seated  at  the  king’s  feast. 

\ 

“Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  love;  behold,  thou 
art  fair; 

Thine  eyes  are  as  doves.” 

Even  Pharaoh’s  daughter  dare  take  no  ex¬ 
ception  to  this  though  the  choice  of  Solomon’s 
wives  and  his  first  queen.  But  the  Shulammite 
made  as  though  she  comprehended  not  the  say¬ 
ing  of  the  king  and  seizing  the  very  words 
of  Solomon  wreathed  them  into  a  garland  of 
praise  for  her  beloved,  saying: 

“Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  beloved,  yea, 
pleasant: 

Also  our  couch  is  green.” 

Then  Solomon  disconcerted  seeking  to  stay 
her  words  of  praise  of  another  broke  in  scarce¬ 
ly  knowing  what  to  answer: 

“Behold  and  see,  how  goodly  these  purple 
chambers  are. 

The  beams  of  our  houses  are  cedars, 

And  our  rafters  are  firs.” 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


215 


But  the  maiden  straightway  protested  at  this 
saying  of  the  king — even  affirming  that  her 
delight  was  the  green  couch: 

“I  am  a  rose  of  Sharon, 

A  lily  of  the  valleys.” 

Then  did  her  head  droop  as  she  continued: 
“I  grow  beautiful  in  the  great  out  of  doors.  I 
have  no  need  of  thy  chambers  of  purple,  thy 
houses  of  cedar,  yea,  thy  rafters  of  firs  have 
no  meaning  for  me.  Let  the  king  consider, 
for  he  is  wise.  Can  a  rose  of  Sharon,  a  lily 
of  the  valley  flourish  as  a  domestic  plant  of 
the  palace?” 

The  king’s  confusion  became  great  because 
of  this  question  so  directly  aimed  at  the  heart 
of  all  his  strivings.  Even  so  the  king  did  pre¬ 
tend  never  to  understand  the  motive  that  put 
the  question  forth,  and  as  one  who  would  seek 
to  heighten  a  goodly  description  already  given 
he  said : 

“As  a  lily  among  thorns, 

So  is  my  love  among  the  daughters.” 

As  Solomon  so  spake  a  servant  poured  the 
oil  of  spikenard  upon  her  head  and  it  ran 
down  in  profusion  over  her  heavy  raven  hair. 


2  1 6  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

None  other  was  granted  the  privilege  of  the 
anointing  of  this  costly  oil  this  day — not  even 
the  Queen  of  Egypt  could  have  a  share  with 
that  rustic  maid  of  the  hills.  As  a  bundle  of 
myrrh  was  placed  upon  her  bosom  and  a 
goodly  cluster  of  henna-flowers  fresh  from 
the  gardens  of  En-gedi  were  placed  upon  her 
couch  at  her  side,  the  girl  of  Shulam  lifting 
her  eyes,  modest  with  the  tenderness  of  love, 
fixed  them  on  the  eyes  of  the  king. 

Fierce  was  the  struggle  to  extricate  herself 
from  the  cunning  devices  set  to  entrap  and 
hold  her  as  a  captive  of  the  palace.  She  was 
in  choice  favor  of  all,  yea,  she  was  the  con¬ 
suming  passion  of  the  king’s  heart.  Her  soul 
could  give  expression  to  but  one  ruling  pas¬ 
sion  and  as  her  passion  so  was  her  tongue 
entering  a  brave  protest  to  the  words  of  the 
king  s  unstinted  praise  of  her  beauty — even 
turning  about  the  words  of  the  king  to  the 
praise  of  her  shepherd  lover,  saying: 

“As  the  apple-tree  among  the  trees  of  the 
wood, 

So  is  my  beloved  among  the  sons. 

I  sat  down  under  his  shadow  with  great  de¬ 
light. 

And  his  fruit  was  sweet  to  my  taste.” 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


217 


Just  at  this  she  cast  her  eyes  over  the  ban¬ 
queting  table  of  Solomon  full  of  the  fruits  of 
every  land  and  to  conceal  the  holy  thing  which 
she  had  unconsciously  exposed  to  the  gaze  of 
the  bold  and  irreverent  she  courageously 
sought  to  say  something  praiseworthy  of  the 
king  and  his  feast  but  in  reality  confided  her 
knowledge  of  the  same  to  her  beloved  who  was 
somewhere  among  the  far-away  hills  of  the 
North,  saying: 

“While  the  king  sat  at  his  table, 

My  spikenard  sent  forth  its  fragrance.” 

But  it  was  so  by  the  time  she  had  given 
utterance  to  these  words  she  had  wholly  for¬ 
gotten  that  she  was  at  the  king’s  table — the 
recipient  of  Solomon’s  bounty,  and  turning 
even  aside  from  the  king  who  was  seeking  to 
embrace  her,  she  spake  with  all  the  feminine 
charm  of  her  voice: 

“My  beloved  is  unto  me  as  a  bundle  of  myrrh, 
That  lieth  betwixt  my  breasts.” 

Even  at  this  did  her  eyes  fairly  dance  and 
sparkle  as  she  clasped  her  arms  to  her  breast, 
and  continued  in  a  voice  mellow  in  modesty: 


2  1 8 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“My  beloved  is  unto  me  as  a  cluster  of  henna- 
flowers 

In  the  vineyards  of  En-gedi.” 

At  this  Solomon  started  up  and  arose  from 
the  table  and  stood  helpless  and  crushed  be¬ 
fore  the  girl  of  the  hills  where  the  shade  of 
the  thorn-bush  prevents  the  sparkling  dews 
though  these  treasures  of  Hermon  are  scat¬ 
tered  lavishly  everywhere  beneath  the  open 
sky  of  that  rugged-carved  land.  There  was  a 
filling  up  in  the  breast  of  the  king  and  the 
voice  was  stiffled  as  the  muscles  of  the  throat 
became  tense.  By  sheer  force  of  the  will  he 
was  able  to  give  partial  utterance  only— his 
voice  slowly  recovering: 

“Thou  art  fair,  my  love,  thou  art  fair — ” 

Eie  the  king  could  give  further  utterance 
the  royal  ladies  shout  with  one  accord : 

“Thou  art  the  fairest  among  women  O 
Shulammite!”  ’ 

At  this  the  king  recovered  himself,  and  ap¬ 
pealing  to  the  maiden  sought  her  smile  of  ap¬ 
proval  at  least: 

Yea,  thou  art  all  fair,  my  love.  All  would 
I  give  thee — even  the  kingdom,  my  undefiled. 
My  life  counts  as  naught  for  thee,  my  dove. 
But  the  more  I  bless  thee  and  bestow  favor 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


219 


upon  thee  the  more  unsparingly  dost  thou 
praise  the  shepherd  of  the  hills.  (Yet  I  am 
aware  that  my  father  David  was  a  shepherd 
and  the  Lord  do  so  to  me  and  more  also  if  I 
speak  slightingly  of  the  keeper  of  sheep  in 
those  thorn-clad  hills  even  of  Galilee.) 
Would  that  the  feast  of  Solomon  could  find 
favor  with  thee,  my  love,  my  dove,  my  un¬ 
defiled!” 

The  maiden  lifted  her  eyes  to  the  king  as 
though  astonished  that  he  should  ask  such  as 
that  of  her.  Her  eyes  snapped  as  she  looked 
straight  into  the  eyes  of  Solomon.  As  she 
spake  there  was  pathos  in  her  voice: 


“O  king,  thy  banquet  is  goodly.  It  lacks  no 
choice  fruit  from  any  land.  The  best 
of  all  the  lands  of  the  earth  spread  thy 
table.  But— my  beloved!  he  brought 
me  to  the  banqueting-house, 

And  his  banner  over  me  was  love.” 


Hardly  had  the  last  word  departed  from 
her  lips  when  she  swooned  falling.  As  she 
was  caught  in  the  arms  of  the  king  she  cried 
beseechingly,  saying: 


220 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


“Stay  ye  me  with  raisins,  refresh  me  with 
apples; 

For  I  am  sick  from  love.” 

Then  Solomon  supported  her  head  with  his 
left  arm  and  would  have  caressed  her  had 
she  not  protested  so  vigorously,  saving: 

“Let  his  left  hand  be  under  my  head, 

And  his  right  hand  embrace  me.” 

The  ladies  gather  about  the  king  and  offer 
their  services  to  minister  to  the  Shulammite. 
Every  effort  is  put  forth  to  bring  her  to, 
naught  but  her  protest  is  hushed  in  the 
death-like  swoon  of  the  stuffy  air  from  those 
crowding  about  to  minister.  The  mistake  of 
those  who  mean  well  is  often  overruled  and 
happily  the  victim  is  brought  to  life.  So  the 
sparkle  returns  to  the  eyes  of  the  Shulam¬ 
mite  and  she  looks  up  into  the  eyes  of  those 
looking  down  upon  her.  As  her  piercing  eyes 
are  finding  their  way  her  voice  too  comes 
back,  and  she  protests  with  the  vehemence 
of  an  unabated  store  of  energy,  saying: 

“I  adjure  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem, 

By  the  roes,  or  by  the  hinds  of  the  field, 


SOLOMON’S  PALACE 


22  1 


That  ye  stir  not  up,  nor  awake  my  love, 
Until  he  please.” 

Then  did  the  king  say  with  anguish  in  his 
breast: 

“Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs,  where  love  is, 
Than  a  stalled  ox  and  a  lacerated  soul  there¬ 
with.” 

Her  look  pierced  the  soul  of  the  king  for 
she  saw  the  anguish  of  his  heart.  The  queens 
found  no  place  for  song.  All  seemed  as 
though  death  had  laid  its  hand  upon  the 
palace  to  seize  the  first-born. 


THE  SHULAMMITE’S  PLEA  TO  THE 

COURT  LADIES 


SUCH  was  the  abrupt  manner  in  which 
the  king’s  banquet  was  brought  to  an  end 
that  the  wine  was  left  sparkling  in  the  cups 
and  the  choice  meats  in  the  midst  of  the  table 
were  untouched,  even  the  symmetrical  purple 
cluster  of  grapes  from  the  valley  of  Eshcol, 
suspended  from  a  branch  in  the  midst  of  the 
table,  remained  undisturbed. 

But  even  now  the  Shulammite  finds  herself 
in  the  midst  of  the  royal  ladies,  the  king  hav¬ 
ing  departed  to  attend  to  pressing  matters  of 
state.  The  Daughters  of  Jerusalem  are  eager 
to  help  her  find  the  king’s  consuming  passion. 
They  can  not  apprehend  why  she  does  not  see 
it  all.  It  colors  the  very  voice  of  Solomon  and 
strikes  home  from  his  every  look.  As  they 
are  moved  so  do  they  speak.  They  know 
not  how  to  withhold — even  seeking  out  the 
words  of  the  maiden  that  she  fail  not  to  com¬ 
prehend  and  lay^  hold  upon  that  which  they 
said; 


222 


SHULAMMITE’S  PLEA  TO  LADIES  223 


uO  Shulammite,  thou  hast  well  said: 

‘While  the  king  sat  at  his  table, 

My  spikenard  sent  forth  its  fragrance.’ 
Was  not  his  banner  over  thee  love — 

Even  love  rich  with  the  folds  of  the  purple 
curtains  of  Solomon?” 

At  this  saying  was  the  maiden  provoked  to 
exasperation.  But  the  Queen  of  Syria  made 
as  though  she  saw  it  not,  and  sought  to 
heighten  that  which  had  been  said  by  saying: 

“Daughter,  thou  didst  say  truly,  and  the 
king’s  voice  was  mellow  with  affection  as  he 
spake  rich  words  of  love  to  thee.” 

At  this  was  the  soul  of  the  maiden  incensed 
and  the  cheek  burned  with  the  insult.  What 
suppressing  and  expressing  of  a  soul!  Her 
voice  was  enriched  many  fold  as  she  spoke  of 
her  beloved.  While  the  voice  of  Solomon  fell 
flat  on  her  ear,  and  the  taunting  insistence  of 
the  daughters  scoured  her  soul  to  anger — the 
voice  of  her  beloved  stirred  the  music  of  her 
being. 

“The  voice  of  my  beloved!  (Starting  back  she 
stood  tense  in  a  listening  attitude.)  be¬ 
hold,  he  cometh,  (Pier  imagination 
was  painting  a  far  different  scene  from 


224 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


any  coloring  of  the  picture  the  court 
ladies  could  make.) 

Leaping  upon  the  mountains,  skipping  upon 
the  hills.” 

“Dreams  fly  away  on  the  wings  of  fancy 
and  are  not,  O  Shulammite,”  cried  the  court 
ladies  in  vehement  protest.  The  blush  burst 
all  crimson  on  her  cheek  as  she  met  the  pro¬ 
test  in  a  sharp  turn  of  the  picture  heightened 
and  intensified. 

“My  beloved  is  like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart: 
Behold  he  standeth  behind  our  wall; — ” 

“Our  wall,”  shouted  the  court  ladies,  “since 
when  stood  thy  beloved  behind  the  wall  of 
this  palace,  mystic  dreamer?  Show  the  mat¬ 
ter  unto  us !” 

“Hath  the  Shulammite  any  part  in  this 
palace,  daughters  of  Jerusalem?  As  I  sat 
with  my  mother  I  beheld  my  beloved  as  he 
standeth  behind  our  wall: 

He  looketh  in  at  the  windows; 

He  glanceth  through  the  lattice.” 

“But  what  is  all  this  that  thou  sayest  of  thy 
beloved  to  what  thou  mightest  say  of  Solomon 


SHULAMMITE’S  PLEA  TO  LADIES 


225 


in  the  midst  of  these  purple  chambers?  Did 
not  the  king  stand  in  the  midst  of  these  purple 
chambers  bidding  thee  to  the  goodliest  ban¬ 
quet  ever  spread  in  the  palace  of  Solomon? 
What  couldst  thy  beloved  do  like  unto  this?” 

The  question  tried  the  maiden  to  the  point 
of  endurance,  and  brushing  a  tear  from  the 
cheek  she  became  vehement  in  making  her 
reply  emphatic,  saying: 

uMy  beloved  spake,  and  said  unto  me, 

Rise  up,  my  love,  my  fair  one,  and  come  away. 
For,  lo,  the  winter  is  past; 

The  rain  is  over  and  gone; 

The  flowers  appear  on  the  earth; 

The  time  of  the  singing  of  birds  is  come, 

And  the  voice  of  the  turtle-dove  is  heard  in 
the  land; 

1  he  fig-tree  ripeneth  her  green  figs, 

And  the  vines  are  in  blossom; 

They  give  forth  their  fragrance. 

Arise,  my  love,  my  fair  one,  and  come  away. 

(As  she  repeats  the  invitation  the  words  are 
like  nuggets  of  choice  gold  encased  in  the  most 
excellent  designing  and  the  ruddy  cells  with 
radiant  glow  enhanced  by  the  piercing  sparkle 
of  the  eye  lifts  up  her  countenance  sprightly 


22  6 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


with  affection  as  she  stretches  forth  her  hands 
and  stands  on  tiptoe  as  though  she  were  about 
to  wing  her  way  swiftly  from  the  purple  cur¬ 
tains  of  Solomon  to  the  open  gardens  of  her 
beloved  which  are  being  flooded  with  the 
golden  sun-beams  of  springtime.) 

“O  my  dove,  that  art  in  the  clefts  of  the  rock, 
in  the  covert  of  the  steep  place, 

Let  me  see  thy  countenance,  let  me  hear  thy 
voice; 

For  sweet  is  thy  voice,  and  thy  countenance  is 
comely.” 

Though  the  queens  can  scarcely  withstand 
the  compelling  affection  conveyed  in  the 
words,  voice  and  person  of  the  Shulammite 
yet  must  they  harden  themselves  as  though 
they  heard  naught  that  could  enlist  their  atten¬ 
tion  much  less  absorb  their  interests.  So  the 
Queen  of  Egypt  spake  lightly  of  the  affection 
and  in  deep  irony  even  mocked  the  words  of 
the*girl  of  Shulam. 

“Truly  it  is  better  to  hear  the  voice  of  the 
rustic,  saying,  ‘O  my  dove,  that  art  in  the  clefts 
of  the  rock,  in  the  covert  of  the  steep  place,  let 
me  see  thy  countenance,  let  me  hear  thy  voice, 
for  sweet  is  thy  voice,  and  thy  countenance  is 


SHULAMMITE’S  PLEA  TO  LADIES  227 


comely’;  than  to  hear  the  voice  of  the  king, 
saying, 

“Behold,  thou  art  fair,  my  love;  behold, 
thou  art  fair;  thine  eyes  are  as  doves;  thy 
cheeks  are  comely  with  plaits  of  hair,  thy  neck 
with  strings  of  jewels.  Most  likely  to  rhyme 
out  a  love  so  fair  as  this  thou  canst  sing  for  us 
thy  love  ditty.” 

At  this  saying  all  the  court  ladies  broke 
forth  in  one  voice,  saying: 

“Sing  us  thy  ditty,  fairest  among  women, 
for  thy  words  are  choice  even  as  the  oil  of 
spikenard.” 

They  that  led  her  captive  required  of  her 
song.  How  could  she  sing  the  song  of  the 
heart  in  a  strange  place?  But  lest  they  err, 
she  must  tell  them  that  all  the  music  of  her 
heart  is  one  complete  harmony  in  full  accord 
with  her  every  act. 

“  ‘Take  us  the  foxes,  the  little  foxes,  that  spoil 
the  vineyards; 

For  our  vineyards  are  in  blossom!’ 

“These  are  the  words,  O  daughters  of 
Jerusalem,  that  I  did  sing  to  him  as  he  cov¬ 
ered  my  lips  with  the  kisses  of  his  mouth.” 

She  looked  straight  into  the  eyes  of  the 


228 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


court  ladies  and  the  Queen  of  Egypt  was  quick 
to  take  up  the  challenge,  saying: 

“Then  we  are  the  little  foxes  that  threaten 
to  spoil  thy  vineyard — even  thine  and  thy 
beloved’s.” 

Knowing  that  they  saw  she  would  have 
them  understand  that  the  integrity  of  her  love 
was  unbroken  and  was  as  true  as  ever  despite 
their  efforts  to  turn  it  to  another,  even  Solo¬ 
mon.  There  was  a  glow  of  exceeding  warmth 
as  she  told  them  that  her  vineyard  was  still  un¬ 
spoiled  by  the  little  foxes. 

“My  beloved  is  mine  and  I  am  his; 

He  feedeth  his  flock  among  the  lilies.” 

“Is  the  thing  not  true,  fair  one,  that  a  heart 
like  unto  thine  is  incapable  of  conception  of 
broad  love?  1  hine  affection  having  lit  upon 
a  rustic  is  blind  by  sheer  stubborn  persistence 
to  sentiments  nobler  from  hearts  greater  and 
richer?” 

But  the  Shulammite  ignoring  the  unjust 
chaige  of  the  harem  refused  to  see  any  but  her 
lover  in  the  midst  of  the  wealth  that  Nature 
vied  to  surround  him: 

“Until  the  day  be  cool,  and  the  shadows  flee 
away, 


SHULAMMITE’S  PLEA  TO  LADIES  229 

Turn,  my  beloved,  and  be  thou  like  a  roe  or  a 
young  hart 

Upon  the  mountains  of  Bether.” 

“Thou  dost  still  talk  as  one  that  is  dream¬ 
ing,”  remarked  the  Queen  of  Syria  as  the 
royal  ladies  turned  to  withdraw. 


SOLOMON  AND  THE 
SHULAMMITE 

t 

SO  are  the  offices  of  the  court  ladies  re¬ 
jected  in  a  pleading  warning  that  Solo¬ 
mon  will  persistently  be  refused  the  love  of 
the  fair  Shulammite.  As  they  retire  the  Shu- 
lammite  seats  herself  upon  a  couch  of  purple 
with  curtains  of  tapestry  hanging  all  about 
her.  Laying  her  hands  in  her  lap  with  dreamy 
eyes  fixed  upon  the  floor  her  mind  pictures 
a  royal  scene  which  is  a  stranger  to  the  palace. 
Great  quiet  wraps  all  as  she  muses.  There  is 
a  rustle  mid  the  purple  curtains  about  the  girl 
as  the  door  to  the  apartment  opens.  But  she 
is  too  much  engaged  to  notice  any  flutter  mid 
the  purple  curtains  and  to  lift  up  her  eyes  from 
the  scene  of  her  contemplation. 

The  king  in  his  royal  apparel  seats  himself 
at  her  side.  Not  even  a  servant  attended  the 
king  as  he  entered.  He  has  guarded  well  the 
moment  knowing  the  failure  of  the  daughters 
in  his  behalf.  Placing  his  arm  about  the  form 

230 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE,  231 

of  the  girl  who  is  musing  and  drawing  her  to 
him  speaks  love  to  her  in  a  plea  of  a  consum¬ 
ing  passion,  saying  softly  and  tenderly: 

“Thy  lips  are  like  a  thread  of  scarlet, 
And  thy  mouth  is  comely.” 

At  this  saying  he  kisses  her.  She  reaches 
her  veil  and  draws  it  closely  over  her  face. 
The  king  is  too  much  intoxicated  with  the 
exhilaration  of  love  even  to  interpret  this  pro¬ 
test.  Deep  modesty  and  self-respect  would 
cause  a  woman  to  veil  her  face  in  the  presence 
of  the  great  king  who  rules  all  Israel.  So 
drawing  her  closer  to  his  bosom  he  becomes 
unstinting  in  the  praise  of  her  beauty. 

“Thy  temples  are  like  a  piece  of  pomegranate 
Behind  thy  veil. 

Thy  neck  is  like  the  tower  of  David  builded 
for  an  armory 

Whereon  they  hang  a  thousand  bucklers, 

All  the  shields  of  the  mighty  men. 

Thy  two  breasts  are  like  two  fawns 
That  are  twins  of  a  roe, 

Which  feed  among  the  lilies.” 

No  longer  could  the  maiden’s  lips  be  sealed, 


232  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

and  out  of  the  rich  treasure  of  her  heart  she 
asserted  that  she  was  by  affection  bound  to  a 
love  in  every  way  superior  to  that  which  the 
king  had  to  offer. 

“Until  the  day  be  cool,  and  the  shadows  flee 
away, 

I  will  get  me  to  the  mountain  of  myrrh, 

And  to  the  hill  of  frankincense. 

My  beloved  is  mine,  and  I  am  his: 

He  feedeth  his  flocks  among  the  lilies.” 

Then  would  the  king  have  clasped  her 
closer  as  though  he  feared  she  would  fly  from 
him  but  fairy-like  she  had  already  released 
herself  from  his  embrace  and  arose  from  the 
couch  of  purple.  The  king  gazed  at  her  as 
though  he  would  see  her  get  to  the  mountain 
of  myrrh,  and  to  the  hill  of  frankincense.  The 
king’s  voice  was  mellow  with  pleading  as  he 
addressed  her,  saying: 

“Fairest  daughter,  canst  thou  snatch  thyself 
from  me?  My  love  for  thee  is  wonderful 
passing  that  for  all  the  queens  and  daughters 
of  the  palace.  Is  there  a  love  greater  than  this 
even  in  him  that  feedeth  the  flocks  among  the 
lilies?” 

I  he  response  of  the  maiden  was  quick  and 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  233 


sharp — as  a  shaft  from  the  bow  of  one  skilled 
in  battle. 

“Thy  love,  O  king,  is  not  like  unto  the  love 
of  my  beloved.  His  love  is  the  finest  of  the 
wheat  that  sprouts  and  springs  naturally  from 
the  soil  that  nourishes  it.  O  king,  this  is  the 
love  of  my  beloved — these  are  the  words  he 
spake  unto  me  concerning  his  love  for  me: 

“Thou  art  all  fair,  my  love; 

And  there  is  no  spot  in  thee. 

Come  with  me  from  Lebanon,  my  bride, 

With  me  from  Lebanon; 

Look  from  the  top  of  Amana, 

From  the  top  of  Senir  and  Hermon, 

From  the  Lions’  dens, 

From  the  mountains  of  the  Leopards. 

Thou  hast  ravished  my  heart,  my  sister,  my 
bride; 

Thou  hast  ravished  my  heart  with  one  of  thine 
eyes, 

With  one  chain  of  thy  neck. 

How  fair  is  thy  love,  my  sister,  my  bride! 

H  ow  much  better  is  thy  love  than  wine! 

And  the  fragrance  of  thine  oils  than  all  man¬ 
ner  of  spices! 

Thy  lips,  O  my  bride,  drop  as  the  honeycomb : 
Ploney  and  milk  are  under  thy  tongue; 


234 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


And  the  smell  of  thy  garments  is  like  the  smell 
of  Lebanon. 

A  garden  shut  up  is  my  sister,  my  bride; 

A  spring  shut  up,  a  fountain  sealed. 

Thy  shoots  are  an  orchard  of  pomegranates, 
with  precious  fruits; 

Henna  with  spikenard  plants. 

Spikenard  and  saffron, 

Calamus  and  cinnamon,  with  all  trees  of 
frankincense ; 

Myrrh  and  aloes,  with  all  the  chief  spices. 
Thou  art  a  fountain  of  gardens, 

A  well  of  living  waters, 

And  flowing  streams  from  Lebanon.” 

“Were  they  not  from  thy  lips,  fair  daugh¬ 
ter,”  exclaimed  the  king,  “I  would  in  nowise 
believe  a  shepherd  of  the  hills  could  utter 
words  like  unto  these — truth  sparkles  from  be¬ 
neath  and  through  them  like  fine  gold.  Yet 
I  see  my  fault.  My  father  David  was  a 
shepherd.  His  Shepherd  Psalm  is  a  fountain 
of  gardens,  a  well  of  living  waters,  even  as 
natural  and  pure  as  flowing  streams  from 
Lebanon.  Art  thou  about  to  speak  further, 
daughter?  Say  on  even  to  all  that  is  in  thine 
heart.” 

The  Shulammite  heard  nothing  that  the 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  235 


king  spake.  So  real  was  it  all  as  though  her 
beloved  was  speaking  to  her  rather  than  that 
she  was  repeating  the  words  of  the  shepherd 
lover.  She  even  smelled  of  the  spices  of  the 
garden.  So  throwing  back  her  veil  forgetful 
of  the  king’s  presence  and  the  purple  cham¬ 
ber  in  the  midst  of  which  she  stood  she  spread 
forth  her  hands  as  though  giving  welcome  to 
the  breezes  ladened  with  spices,  saying, 

“Awake,  O  north  wind;  and  come  thou  south; 
Blow  upon  my  garden  that  the  spices  thereof 
may  flow  out. 

Let  my  beloved  come  into  his  garden, 

And  eat  his  precious  fruits.” 

“Thou  art  dreaming,  daughter,”  exclaimed 
the  king.  But  who  was  dreaming,  for  the 
king  put  forth  his  hand  to  touch  her  as  though 
he  would  make  sure  it  was  still  her  real  self 
before  him.  But  she  protested  saying,  listen¬ 
ing  with  a  sharp  ear  to  the  north: 

“Hearken  unto  my  beloved,  O  king. 

T  am  come  into  my  garden,  my  sister,  my 
bride: 

I  have  gathered  my  myrrh  with  my  spice; 

I  have  eaten  my  honeycomb  with  my  honey; 


23 6  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 
I  have  drunk  my  wine  with  my  milk.’  ” 

As  though  transported  to  the  midst  of  the 
garden  of  spices  and  precious  fruits  where  her 
beloved  had  spread  the  goodliest  before  his 
friends  she  as  hostess  greeted  them  with  a 
hearty  welcome: 

“Eat,  O  friends; 

Drink,  yea,  drink  abundantly,  O  beloved.” 

The  Shulammite  in  Dreamland 

A  death  stillness  reigned  throughout  the 
royal  apartment  that  night.  Not  only  were 
all  music  and  gayety  gone  but  servants  and 
slaves  went  about  hushed  and  quiet  insomuch 
that  their  presence  could  not  be  detected  save 
by  the  eye  of  the  watchman  set  over  them. 
The  rich  purple  curtains  were  drawn  about 
the  couch  in  delicate  trimmings  of  tapestry  on 
which  the  fair  form  of  the  Shulammite  lay. 
Sleep  was  not  sweet  to  her  eyelids  as  her 
temples  throbbed  with  the  heat  of  a  passion 
that  had  set  a  palace  on  fire.  She  thought  on 
that  fatal  morn  when  she  was  cruelly  torn  from 
the  gardens  of  Shulam,  and  sighing  she  saw 
the  vine  bud,  the  apple-tree  blossom,  the 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  237 

pomegranate  flower,  and  too  real — for  now 
her  heart  was  cut  in  great  deep  gashes  for  she 
saw  him  wring  his  heart  of  his  very  life-blood 
as  he  closed  the  door  of  her  mother’s  house 
after  him  to  go  to  seek  for  his  flocks  that 
feed  among  the  hills  back  of  Shunem.  Intoxi¬ 
cated  with  the  burning  of  the  fired  imagina¬ 
tion  she  fled  from  the  chamber  of  delicate 
purple  of  the  palace  of  cedar.  Though  asleep 
yet  her  heart  waked.  It  was  the  voice  of  her 
lover  that  she  heard  as  the  knock  came  to  the 
door  of  the  cottage  of  her  mother,  saying: 

“Open  to  me,  my  sister,  my  love,  my  dove,  my 
undefiled ; 

For  my  head  is  filled  with  dew; 

My  locks  with  the  drops  of  the  night.” 

She  is  semi-conscious  of  the  actual  situation 
even  in  the  grip  of  this  marvelous  vision. 
Though  she  struggles  to  tear  herself  free  she 
finds  it  impossible  somehow  to  do  so  though 
all  her  soul  goes  out  to  him,  and  it  would  be 
her  supreme  desire  to  unbolt  the  door  and  let 
him  in.  Helpless  she  excuses  herself  hardly 
knowing  how  or  why.  Yet  she  does  it  as  the 
only  thing  she  can  do,  for  how  subtle  dreams 
are  to  show  and  yet  prohibit.  How  pathetic 


238  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 
her  explanation : 

“I  have  put  off  my  garment;  how  shall  I  put 
it  on? 

I  have  washed  my  feet;  how  shall  I  defile 
them?” 

How  desperate  the  struggle  when  bound  by 
bands  thou  knowest  not  what.  As  she  saw  the 
rustic  lad  put  his  hand  in  through  the  hole  of 
the  door  to  lift  the  latch  her  heart  moved  for 
him.  Ah!  the  girl  of  the  hills  drenched 
with  the  most  costly  oils  of  spikenard, 
frankincense  and  myrrh  rose  up  somehow 
to  open  to  her  beloved  whose  head  was 
drenched  with  dew  of  the  fields  back  of 
Shunem.  As  she  put  her  hand  upon  the 
handle  of  the  bolt  she  saw  the  liquid  myrrh 
drop  from  her  fingers.  She  opened  but  her  be¬ 
loved  had  withdrawn  himself  and  was  gone. 
Cruel  dream!  after  the  soul  did  the  impos¬ 
sible  it  was  to  be  flatly  disappointed  and 
lacerated  to  shreds.  Ah,  she  hardly  believed 
it  when  she  heard  him  speak  to  her  “to  open” 
to  him.  It  all  seemed  as  unreal  as  a  dream 
when  related  in  the  clear  light  of  the  waking 
hours.  But  she  had  come  to  the  door  and  how 
could  she  return?  Who  could  bolt  even  the 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  239 

door  of  the  palace  against  a  dreamer  after  this 
sort? 

So  disappointed  but  flushing  with  the  pas¬ 
sion  that  was  consuming  her  she  rushes  forth 
into  the  street  to  seek  him  whom  her  soul 
loved.  She  seeks  him  in  the  market-place 
and  by  the  gate  of  the  city,  and  on  the  chief 
street  as  well  as  the  by  street,  but  finds  him 
not.  As  she  is  about  to  lift  the  great  bar  of  the 
gate  to  go  out  of  the  city  the  watchman  who 
has  kept  his  eye  on  her  all  the  while  appre¬ 
hends  her.  Exasperated  she  exclaims  to  the 
one  interrupting  her: 


“Saw  ye  him  whom  my  soul  loveth?” 

At  this  the  watchman  stood  speechless  and 
motionless.  Like  a  flash  she  fled  by  him  into 
a  side  street  by  the  gate.  There  she  found  him 
whom  her  soul  loved,  and  with  an  exuberance 
of  delight  exclaimed: 

“I  will  hold  thee,  and  will  not  let  thee  go, 
Until  I  have  brought  thee  into  my  mother’s 
house, 

And  into  the  chamber  of  her  that  conceived 
me.” 


240 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


Just  as  she  was  in  the  very  ecstasy  of  de¬ 
light  a  keeper  of  the  walls  placed  his  hands 
upon  her,  and  ere  she  was  aware  of  what  was 
being  brought  to  pass  she  opened  her  eyes  in 
the  great  purple  room  of  the  daughters  of 
Jerusalem,  and  there  in  the  presence  of  the 
queens  of  Solomon  she  asked  with  great 
lamentation : 

“O  keepers  of  the  walls,  why  take  away  my 
mantle?”  (For  the  coarse  mantle  that  she  had 
worn  among  the  shepherds  of  the  hills  of 
Shunem  and  which  she  had  thrown  about  her 
as  she  rushed  out  into  the  streets  of  the  city 
had  been  taken  from  her,  and  she  was  being 
arrayed  in  royal  attire.) 

As  the  royal  ladies  gathered  about  the  couch 
of  the  king’s  special  designing  upon  which  the 
fair  form  of  the  Shulammite  was  reclining, 
this  daughter  of  the  hills  fixed  her  great  dark 
eyes  upon  them,  saying: 

“I  adjure  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem,  if 
ye  find  my  beloved, 

That  ye  tell  him  that  I  am  sick  from  love.” 


Then  did  the  daughter  of  Pharaoh  answer, 
saying: 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  241 

i  ^ 

“What  is  thy  beloved  more  than  another  be¬ 
loved, 

O  thou  fairest  among  women?” 

The  maiden  replied  with  a  wild  sparkle  in 
her  eye : 

“I  adjure  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem, 

By  the  roes,  or  by  the  hinds  of  the  field, 

That  ye  stir  not  up,  nor  awake  my  love, 

Until  he  please.” 

At  this  the  queen  of  Egypt  repeated  her  re¬ 
quest,  saying: 

“What  is  thy  beloved  more  than  another  be¬ 
loved, 

That  thou  dost  so  adjure  us?” 

Ehen  did  the  maiden’s  face  light  with  a 
heavenly  fervor  as  she  told  them  of  her  be¬ 
loved  and  spake  of  the  praise  of  his  beauty: 

“My  beloved  is  white  and  ruddy, 

The  chiefest  among  ten  thousand. 

His  head  is  as  the  most  fine  gold; 

His  locks  are  bushy,  and  black  as  a  raven. 

His  eyes  are  like  doves  beside  the  water 


242 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


brooks, 

Washed  with  milk,  and  fitly  set. 

His  cheeks  are  as  a  bed  of  spices,  as  banks 
of  sweet  herbs: 

His  lips  are  as  lilies,  dropping  liquid  myrrh. 
His  hands  are  as  rings  of  gold  set  with  beryl: 
H  is  body  is  as  ivory  work  overlaid  with 
sapphires. 

His  legs  are  as  pillars  of  marble,  set  upon 
sockets  of  fine  gold: 

His  aspect  is  like  Lebanon,  excellent  as  the 
cedars. 

His  mouth  is  most  sweet;  yea,  he  is  altogether 
lovely. 

This  is  my  beloved,  and  this  is  my  friend, 

O  daughters  of  Jerusalem.” 

Then  were  the  royal  ladies  moved  for¬ 
getting  discretion  in  the  spell  of  such  an  ideal. 
They  restrained  themselves  not  but  all  en¬ 
deavored  to  speak  till  the  queen  of  Egypt 
finally  succeeded  in  getting  her  place  in  phras¬ 
ing  their  desires : 

“Whither  is  thy  beloved  gone, 

O  thou  fairest  among  women? 

Whither  hath  thy  beloved  turned  him, 

That  we  may  seek  him  with  thee?” 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  243 


No  sooner  are  the  words  spoken  than  there 
is  a  reply  on  the  lips  of  the  fair  maid  of 
Shulam,  saying: 

| 

aMy  beloved  is  gone  down  to  his  garden,  to 
the  beds  of  spices, 

To  feed  in  the  gardens,  and  to  gather  lilies.” 

Then  clasping  her  hands  to  her  breast  she 
cries  aloud: 

“I  am  my  beloved’s,  and  my  beloved  is  mine: 
He  feedeth  his  flock  among  the  lilies.” 

Even  as  she  stood  with  clasped  hands  in  an 
attitude  of  devotion,  the  words  having  scarce¬ 
ly  died  from  her  lips,  King  Solomon  entered 
having  heard  most  of  the  conversation  of  the 
queens  and  the  Shulammite.  Neither  did  he 
rebuke  them  as  his  mind  was  bent  upon  one 
thing — the  consuming  passion  of  his  soul.  In 
the  midst  of  his  royal  fineries  he  had  passed 
a  sleepless  night  tossing  upon  his  pillow — 
mocked  by  hollow  dreams. 

As  the  maiden  stood  richly  attired,  for  the 
maidens  had  arrayed  her  more  delicately  with 
a  more  elegant  taste  than  yesterday,  as  care¬ 
fully  planned  skill  had  given  way  to  spon- 


244 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


taneous  welling  up  of  art,  Solomon  thrilled 
because  of  her  beauty  praised  her,  saying: 

uHow  beautiful  are  thy  feet  in  sandals,  O 
prince’s  daughter. 

Thy  rounded  thighs  are  like  jewels, 

The  work  of  the  hands  of  a  skilled  workman. 
Thy  body  is  like  a  round  goblet, 

Wherein  no  mingled  wine  is  wanting: 

Thy  waist  is  like  a  heap  of  wheat  set  about 
with  lilies. 

Thy  two  breasts  are  like  two  fawns 
That  are  twins  of  a  roe. 

Thy  neck  is  like  the  tower  of  ivory; 

Thine  eyes  as  the  pool  in  Heshbon,  by  the 
gate  of  Rath-rabbin; 

Thy  nose  is  like  the  tower  of  Lebanon 
Which  looketh  toward  Damascus. 

Thy  head  upon  thee  is  like  Carmel, 

And  the  hair  of  thy  head  like  purple; 

The  king  is  held  captive  in  the  tresses  thereof. 
How  fair  and  how  pleasant  art  thou, 

O  love,  for  delights! 

This  thy  stature  is  like  to  a  palm-tree, 

And  thy  breasts  to  its  clusters. 

I  said,  I  will  climb  up  into  the  palm-tree, 

I  will  take  hold  of  the  branches  thereof: 

Let  thy  breasts  be  as  clusters  of  the  vine, 


SOLOMON  AND  SLIULAMMITE 


245 


And  the  smell  of  thy  breath  like  apples, 

And  thy  mouth  like  the  best  wine.” 

But  blushing  she  hid  her  face  under  her  veil 
saying  with  all  the  sweetness  that  was  pressed 
in  her  charm: 

“Let  my  mouth  be  like  the  best  wine 
That  goeth  down  smoothly  for  my  beloved, 
Causing  the  lips  of  those  that  are  asleep  to 
speak.” 

At  this  was  the  king  fiercely  moved  for  he 
could  find  no  words  to  woo  her. 

Even  then  did  she  see  in  her  vision  as  she 
stood  in  the  midst  of  the  room  of  purple,  yea, 
in  the  presence  of  King  Solomon  and  his 
queens,  the  villages  of  the  North  Country  and 
the  wild  fields  of  the  hills,  the  vineyards  and 
the  pomegranate  orchards  and  all  manner  of 
fruit-bearing  trees  and  grasses.  What  mat¬ 
ters  the  presence  of  Solomon  and  the  court- 
ladies,  her  heart  is  in  the  midst  of  the  orchards 
of  Shunem  upon  which  her  mind  is  set  as  she 
sings  with  the  blithesomeness  of  the  soaring 
linnet: 


“I  am  my  beloved’s; 


2 46  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 

And  his  desire  is  toward  me. 

Come,  my  beloved,  let  us  go  forth  into  the 
field ; 

Let  us  lodge  in  the  villages. 

Let  us  get  up  early  in  the  vineyards; 

Let  us  see  whether  the  vine  hath  budded,  and 
its  blossom  is  open, 

And  the  pomegranates  are  in  flower: 

There  will  I  give  thee  my  love. 

The  mandrakes  give  forth  fragrance; 

And  at  our  doors  are  all  manner  of  fruits,  new 
and  old, 

Which  I  have  laid  up  for  thee,  my  beloved.” 

Then  was  the  palace  quiet  and  a  hush  came 
over  Solomon  and  the  queens  as  the  notes  of 
the  song  died  from  her  lips.  The  king  of 
Israel  could  not  but  envy  the  rustic  among 
the  hills  back  of  Shunem  upon  whom  this 
fairest  of  the  daughters  of  Israel  was  unstint- 
ingly  bestowing  her  undivided  love. 

A  Dextrous  Foil 

Scarcely  had  the  king  taken  his  departure 
from  the  purple  chamber  than  the  court  ladies 
being  incensed  rebuked  the  Shulammite, 
saying: 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  247 


“Is  it  a  light  thing  to  so  despise  the  royal 
love  of  Solomon,  artless  lover  of  a  rustic 
swain?” 

If  the  protest  of  the  Shulammite  was  severe 
and  even  stern  heretofore,  if  her  appeal  was 
grounded  deeply  in  the  affection  of  the  love 
she  bore  the  rustic  of  the  hills,  now  the  protest 
to  those  who  rebuked  her  for  genuine  faithful 
devotion  to  this  shepherd  of  the  hills  is  an 
acute  castration  of  all  they  sought  to  bring 
about  couched  in  a  pathetic  appeal.  Turning 
from  her  royal  accusers  and  spreading  forth 
her  arms  she  spake  in  all  the  compelling  force 
of  her  girlish  charms,  saying: 

“Oh  that  thou  wert  as  my  brother, 

That  sucked  the  breasts  of  my  mother! 

When  I  should  find  thee  without,  I  would 
kiss  thee; 

Yea,  and  none  would  despise  me. 

I  would  lead  thee,  and  bring  thee  into  my 
mother’s  house, 

Who  would  instruct  me; 

I  would  cause  thee  to  drink  of  spiced  wine, 
Of  the  juice  of  my  pomegranate.” 

At  this  did  the  ladies  sneeringly  remark: 
“Thou  hadst  done  well,  O  Shulammite,  hadst 


248 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


thou  spoken  on  this  wise  in  the  presence  of  the 
king,  even  as  his  left  hand  was  under  thine 
head  and  his  right  hand  was  about  to  embrace 
thee.  Surely  it  would  have  been  well  for  thee 
had  the  king  known  that  thou  didst  wish  this 
swain  to  be  thy  brother.  Is  there  any  gift  not 
in  the  power  of  king  Solomon?” 

Then  did  the  Shulammite  shrug  her  shoul¬ 
ders  and  twist  her  body  as  though  she  would 
by  violence  release  herself  from  the  embrace 
of  the  king,  protesting  emphatically  and  bit¬ 
terly,  saying: 

“His  left  hand  should  be  under  my  head, 
And  his  right  hand  should  embrace  me.” 

At  this  were  the  queens  caustic  and  bit¬ 
ter: — “Then  thou  dost  spurn  the  embrace  of 
Solomon,  despise  the  love  of  the  king  of  all 
Israel?  Howbeit,  thou  hast  done  well  to 
welcome  the  embrace  of  this  rustic,  and  to 
pine  for  the  love  of  this  slave  of  the  hills — it 
is  all  so  superior  to  the  graces  the  king  could 
bestow.  Thou  art  the  most  discreet  of  the 
daughters  of  Israel.  Hast  thou  aught  else  to 
say  in  praise  of  thy  love  to  us?  Surely  thou 
hast?  We  will  sit  at  thy  feet  and  learn  for 
surely  all  prudence  and  knowledge  dwell  with 


SOLOMON  AND  SHULAMMITE  249 


thee.” 

At  this  the  maiden  was  stifled.  It  all 
seemed  too  much.  Words  seemed  useless,  and 
efforts  were  as  though  they  availed  nothing. 
After  a  struggle  to  release  herself  from  the 
clutching  grip  of  interlocking  passion  she  at¬ 
tempted  to  repeat  the  protest  she  had  made 
over  and  over  again,  saying: 

“I  adjure  you,  O  daughters  of  Jerusalem, 

(Catching  the  words  under  her  breath  she 
remembered  how  they  had  passed  for 
nothing  heretofore,  so  she  altered  her 
appeal  to  a  sharp  searching  question 
that  they  might  never  play  on  her  affec¬ 
tion  again.) 

Why  should  ye  stir  up  ?  or  why  awake  my  love, 
Until  he  please?” 

Her  piercing  eye  glistened  as  she  looked 
hard  into  their  faces  as  though  she  dared 
them  to  answer.  It  was  final.  The  ladies 
went  forth  leaving  the  fair  Shulammite  sole 
victor  of  the  lofty  vantage  ground  she  had 
taken  by  sheer  force  of  unswerving  affection. 


THE  KING’S  COUNSEL 


AT  the  very  hour  that  the  Shulammite 
silenced  the  ladies  with  her  searching 
question  the  king  was  at  counsel  with  his  chief 
men  as  to  what  disposition  he  ought  to  make 
of  this  girl  of  the  hills.  He  was  persuaded 
that  he  could  never  win  her.  It  was  alto¬ 
gether  in  his  power  to  force  her  to  become  his 
wife,  but  he  remembered  the  decree  of  David 
his  father  concerning  the  virgin. 

The  counsel  was  very  grave  and  each  took 
his  place  as  though  a  great  calamity  had  fallen 
upon  the  royal  house  the  mischief  of  which 
no  man  knew  where  it  would  end. 

The  king  rose  from  his  throne  and  ad¬ 
dressed  his  mighty  men  with  great  solemnity, 
saying: 

“It  is  known  to  all  the  elders  and  captains 
and  to  all  that  eat  at  the  king’s  table  that  I 
purposed  to  make  this  Shulammite  my  wife, 
and  give  her  the  chiefest  place  among  the 
women  of  the  court.  From  the  very  day  that 
I  set  my  eyes  upon  the  goodly  form  of  the 

250 


THE  KING’S  COUNSEL 


251 


virgin  of  Shulam  my  heart  was  set  on  making 
her  my  wife.  When  all  means  and  ways  had 
failed  except  force  I  recalled  how  my  father 
David  spake  on  this  wise  the  day  this  fairest 
of  women  came  before  him  with  the  fresh 
blush  of  the  field  upon  her  cheek.  Thus  and 
so  did  David  say. 

“  ‘Now  do  I  remember  the  fields  and  Bath- 
sheba.  This  maiden  brings  back  my  whole 
life — even  as  nature  is  about  to  set  the  final 
mark  upon  it  complete  or  incomplete,  no  mat¬ 
ter  the  seal  is  fixed.  Was  I  not  always  a  man 
of  war  and  did  I  not  rejoice  with  the  little 
hills  about  me?  Ah,  my  youth  is  renewed  in 
its  full  flush  as  I  look  upon  this  Shulammite. 
Yet  I  must  remain  within  the  walls  of  this 
palace,  and  must  I  ask  this  noble  Shulammite 
to  do  the  same?  Must  she  share  the  infirmity 
of  an  old  king?  Her  mother  crowned  her 
with  beauty  and  loveliness  as  well  as  liberty 
like  that  of  the  eagle  in  the  day  she  bore  her 
in  yonder  rustic  cottage.  Shall  an  old  king 
take  away  this  liberty  which  her  mother  has 
bestowed  upon  her?  By  the  kine  of  Bashan, 
my  son  Solomon,  she  shall  have  her  liberty 
with  virginity  unspotted  after  that  I  am 
gathered  to  my  fathers!’  ” 

Then  Baana  the  son  of  Ahilud  who  was 


252 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


over  the  store-cities  in  Megiddo — even  over 
Shulam  and  its  illustrious  gardens,  answered 
and  said  to  the  king: 

It  is  known  throughout  all  the  world  that 
there  is  none  who  has  wisdom  like  unto  thee, 
O  king.  Judge  for  thyself,  doth  not  dotage 
come  with  age?  The  judgment  of  thy  father 
was  reliable  even  to  the  last.  Yet  when  he 
disposed  of  this  Shulammite  did  he  not  refer 
to  his  own  feebleness  and  infirmity  over  and 
over?  Would  he  not  reverse  his  decision 
were  he  living  today,  seeing  thou  art  suffering 
because  of  this  virgin?  Besides  she  returned 
to  her  gardens  according  to  the  oath  of  David, 
and  if  the  king  would  make  her  his  wife  he 
would  in  no  wise  destroy  the  word  of  his 
father.  Are  not  all  the  people  in  the  land  in 
the  hands  of  the  king,  and  why  should  he  not 

dispose  of  this  maiden  as  is  pleasing  in  his 
eyes?” 

“Thy  speech  is  artful  and  cunning,  son  of 
Ahilud,”  said  the  king  faltering  as  though  not 
quite  sure  of  himself,  for  the  temptation  was 
great  to  avail  himself  of  the  cunning  of  his 
adviser,  yet  I  can  not  but  respect  the  wishes 
of  my  father  David.  I  have  sought  by  every 
avenue  known  to  an  ardent  wooer  to  find  the 
way  to  the  citadel  of  the  heart’s  affection  of 


THE  KING’S  COUNSEL 


253 


this  fairest  of  women,  only  to  find  every  way 
of  approach  well  guarded — every  gate  barred 
fast  against  the  burning  passion  of  my  heart. 
I  am  consumed  because  of  her  beauty  and  am 
held  captive  in  her  tresses,  but  my  love  is  not 
requited.  Truly  there  is  a  flame  of  affection 
within  the  midst  of  that  stronghold  but  it 
burns  only  and  always  for  the  rustic  shepherd 
of  the  hills.  But  I  have  wellnigh  been  con¬ 
sumed  by  the  heat  of  the  blaze  of  this  flame 
so  mighty  is  the  fire  that  is  kindled  in  the  heart 
of  the  Shulammite  for  that  rustic  of  the  hills. 
O  Counselors,  the  despair  of  the  affection  of 
this  fairest  among  women  will  mock  the  glory 
of  Solomon  and  the  goodly  array  of  the  king 
will  be  but  a  vain  show.” 

The  king  was  overwhelmed  by  the  stress  of 
his  emotions.  The  noble  Ben-Hur  seeing  the 
perplexity  of  his  lord  sought  to  relieve  the 
stress,  saying: 

“My  lord  king  Solomon,  let  not  this  thing 
steal  the  lustre  from  thine  eye,  for  thou  art 
the  wisest  of  men.  Abnormal  stress  of  feeling 
sweeps  the  soul  from  its  bearing.  Thy  servant 
knows  that  thou  art  master  and  that  thou  wilt 
find  compensation  for  this  in  many  ways.  The 
fairest  of  the  earth  are  thine  for  the  saying. 
Let  not  the  countenance  of  the  king  be 


25  4 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


troubled,  but  let  this  Shulammite  maiden  be 
put  from  his  sight.  When  out  of  thy  sight  the 
form  will  no  longer  disturb  thee,  neither  will 
the  flame  devour  thee.” 

“Thy  counsel  is  good,  noble  son  of  Hur,” 
replied  the  king,  “and  the  thing  is  done.  The 
Shulammite  shall  return  to  her  hills.  The 
eyes  of  the  king  shall  never  rest  upon  her  form 
again.  Noble  captain,  I  knew  it  was  the  thing 
to  do  but  now  it  is  done.” 

At  this  saying  of  the  king  the  elders  and 
captains  of  the  counsel  stood  up  and  shouted 
with  one  voice: 

“God  do  so  to  us  and  more  also  if  thy 
servants  leave  undone  aught  of  all  the  king 
hath  commanded  us  this  day.” 

At  this  was  the  pride  of  the  king  kindled 
and  he  was  comforted  in  his  mighty  men  as 
each  did  swear  leaning  on  his  shield  to  do  all 
the  king’s  commands. 


THE  SHULAMMITE’S  RETURN 


IT  was  one  of  those  rare  days  when  the  sun 
stood  over  the  spurs  of  Gilead  and  flooded 
the  plains  of  lower  Galilee  with  golden  shafts 
adorning  meadows  with  sparkling  of  silvery 
dews.  Nature  was  arrayed  for  her  wedding 
day  and  as  the  fountain  bubbled  at  the  foot 
of  the  naked  Gilboa  there  seemed  to  be 
an  eloquence  everywhere  from  a  thousand 
tongues  to  crown  even  the  brown  heights  with 
the  elegance  of  glittering  dews  even  though 
but  for  a  single  morning.  Was  the  mournful 
elegy  over  Saul  and  Jonathan  to  be  its  per¬ 
petual  dirge  without  the  mirth  of  a  single 
wedding  day?  Everything  was  calling  all  Na¬ 
ture  to  arise  and  make  merry  this  day — even 
Gilboa  should  brush  out  its  frown.  Two  mor¬ 
tals  who  rejoiced  in  nature’s  persistent  and 
simple  way  had  come  into  their  own  and  were 
no  more  twain  but  one  flesh.  Nature  did 
smile  that  day  as  nature’s  God  did  lift  up  the 
light  of  his  countenance  upon  her  and  grant 
to  the  two  souls  peace — even  the  two  he  had 

255. 


256  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


joined  together  and  made  one  flesh. 

A  great  number  of  shepherds  were  gathered 
together  on  the  plains  toward  the  gateway  of 
the  south  in  the  way  of  the  wilderness.  They 
are  making  merry  together  because  their 
flocks  have  multiplied  exceedingly  and  tender 
grass  waxed  luxuriant  drenched  by  the  dews 
of  Hermon.  The  soft  breezes  from  all  direc¬ 
tions  had  entered  upon  a  friendly  rivalry: 
Sharon’s  rosy  plain  had  wellnigh  made  the 
world  radiant  while  on  the  coarse  hills  of 
Upper  Galilee  the  flowers  were  exuberant. 
As  nature  was  so  splendidly  right  every  cell 
of  the  body  was  thrilled  with  the  delight  of 
living.  These  shepherds  with  all  their  hopes 
lifted  up  and  their  souls  sprinkled  with  the 
joy  of  living  saw  a  goodly  company  coming  out 
of  the  gateway  of  the  South  by  the  hills  that 
seemed  to  realize  that  they  were  belated  in 
adorning  themselves  and  therefore  were  in 
great  haste  in  robing  in  vesture  of  fresh  green 
for  this  splendid  royal  company.  A  maiden 
rare,  distinguished  from  the  others  of  the  com¬ 
pany  both  as  to  form  and  bearing  with  her 
thick  raven  tresses  about  her  shoulders  and 
face  beaming  with  the  radiant  flush  of  victory, 
was  leaning  on  the  shoulder  of  a  shepherd  of 
goodly  build  whose  countenance  was  all  trans- 


THE  SHULAMMITE’S  RETURN  257 


parent  with  a  gladness  of  joy  of  leading  his 
bride  out  of  the  frowning  way  of  the  wilder¬ 
ness  into  nature’s  goodly  bridal  chamber  all 
adorned  with  golden  shafts  which  set  off  the 
silvery  dews  which  beaded  the  meadows. 
Thus  Nature  had  prepared  the  bride-chamber 
for  the  coming  of  the  bridegroom. 

Then  did  the  shepherds  speak  among  them¬ 
selves,  saying: 

“Who  is  this  that  cometh  up  from  the  wilder¬ 
ness, 

Leaning  upon  her  beloved?” 

Then  did  one  answer,  saying: — “The  Shu- 
lammite — this  is  Abishag  leaning  upon  her 
beloved.” 

Then  did  the  shepherds  gaze  intently  upon 
the  Shulammite  and  her  beloved — their  com¬ 
panion  of  the  fields.  Then  did  the  leader  con¬ 
tinue,  saying:  “Let  sackcloth  be  upon  the 
queens  of  the  palace.  Let  the  cruel  dirge  be 
sung  over  the  glory  of  Solomon — even  let  it 
be  taken  from  the  frown  of  naked  Gilboa  and 
let  it  be  inscribed  with  an  iron  pen  upon  the 
walls  of  the  king’s  chamber.  This  day  has 
the  glory  departed  from  Solomon  yet  may  the 
Lord  let  remain  a  tint  of  radiance  for  his 


258  THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


servant  David’s  sake.  Solomon  has  not  taken 
our  substance  and  forced  our  daughters  and 
the  goodliest  of  our  maidens  in  vain. 

“The  Lord  has  prepared  the  bridal  cham¬ 
ber  even  for  this  our  companion  and  his  bride. 
Blessed  be  the  name  of  the  Lord  who  doth 
plead  the  righteous  cause  of  those  who  trust 
in  him.” 

In  the  midst  of  the  shepherds  there  stood 
the  brothers  of  the  Shulammite,  Abishag.  As 
they  were  knit  together  by  the  ties  of  flesh  and 
blood  they  pressed  to  the  front  to  greet  their 
sister  as  she  passed  the  company  of  shepherds. 

As  she  glanced  up  she  saw  her  brothers 
grouped  nearby  with  intense  interest  marking 
their  faces,  and  called  to  them,  saying: 

“My  brothers,  how  is  it  that  ye  were  troubled 
for  me? 

H  ow  is  that  ye  said — even  when  I  was  a  child? 
‘We  have  a  little  sister, 

And  she  hath  no  breasts: 

What  shall  we  do  for  our  sister 

In  the  day  when  she  shall  be  spoken  for?’ 

My  brothers,  sons  of  her  that  bare  me, 

How  those  words  did  sting  and  tear  me! 

They  cut  at  the  foundation  of  the  flower  of 
my  hope,  even  as  every  true  woman  in 


THE  SHULAMMITE’S  RETURN  259 


Israel  prays  that  the  reproach  be  taken 
from  her. 

Seeing  my  sore  grief  ye  fain  would  have 
healed  me,  saying: 

Tf  she  be  a  wall, 

We  will  build  upon  her  a  turret  of  silver: 

And  if  she  be  a  door, 

We  will  inclose  her  with  boards  of  cedar.’ 

Sons  of  my  mother,  thy  well-wishing  in  the 
nature  of  things  could  avail  nothing. 
But  behold  and  see — 

I  am  a  wall,  and  my  breasts  like  towers 
thereof : 

Then  was  I  in  his  eyes  as  one  that  found  peace. 

Yea,  the  king  would  fain  have  given  all  his 
kingdom  to  possess  me  and  my  affec¬ 
tion. 

Solomon  had  a  vineyard  at  Baal-hamon; 

(For  I  spake  much  of  the  vineyard  in  his 
presence) 

He  let  out  the  vineyard  unto  keepers; 

Every  one  for  the  fruit  thereof  was  to  bring  a 
thousand  pieces  of  silver.” 

“All  this  to  be  thine,  my  sister?”  inquired 

her  brother  with  a  searching  voice. 

Quickly  turning  her  eyes  to  her  beloved  and 

looking  into  his  face  with  a  smile  of  affection 


26o 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


she  said  in  all  her  feminine  sweetness  of 
charm : 

“My  vineyard,  which  is  mine,  is  before  me:” 

Then  with  the  wave  of  the  hand  as  though 
she  would  wave  Solomon  and  the  wealth  of 
his  kingdom  from  her  forever  she  said  sternly: 

“Thou,  O  Solomon,  shall  have  the  thousand, 
And  those  that  keep  the  fruit  thereof  two 
hundred.” 

At  this  did  the  rustic  lover  draw  her  close 
and  clasp  her  to  his  bosom,  and  kissing  her 
said : 

“Thou  that  dwellest  in  the  gardens, 

The  companions  hearken  for  thy  voice: 

Cause  me  to  hear  it.” 

Even  at  the  first  note  of  the  song  the  lovers 
locking  arms  sped  with  swift  feet  from  the 
group  of  companions,  the  song  of  the  Shulam- 
mite  going  out  all  the  while  and  making  rich 
music  with  breezes: 


“Make  haste,  my  beloved, 


THE  SHULAMMITE’S  RETURN  261 


And  be  thou  like  a  roe  or  a  young  hart 
Upon  the  mountains  of  spices.” 

Soon  the  mountain  of  spices  veiled  these 
lovers  from  the  companions  of  their  youth. 
The  secrets  of  two  hearts  were  unveiling  to 
each  other  while  protected  from  the  scrutiniz¬ 
ing  eyes  of  friends  and  neighbors,  and  even 
those  near  from  the  ties  of  blood. 

The  noble  hills  befriended  them  in  the 
midst  of  the  garden  of  nuts  back  of  Shulam. 
The  heart  of  the  goodly  orchard  swallowed 
them  up  from  the  eyes  of  the  curious,  for  here 
the  vine,  pomegranate,  apple  and  all  manner 
of  fruit  were  budding  and  some  of  the  early 
fruits  were  on  a  fair  way  to  maturity.  As  they 
passed  the  large  apple-tree  whose  blossoms 
were  wellnigh  spent  and  whose  young  fruit 
was  in  evidence  from  every  branch  with 
healthy  promise  of  a  splendid  yield  the 
maiden  lifted  up  her  hand  from  which  the 
liquid  myrrh  was  still  dripping  and  pointing 
to  the  shade  of  the  tree  said  in  the  tenderness 
of  a  voice  rich  with  feeling  and  affection: 


“Under  the  apple-tree  I  awakened  thee: 
There  thy  mother  was  in  travail  with  thee, 


262 


THE  ROSE  OF  SHARON 


There  was  she  in  travail  that  brought  thee 
forth.” 

As  these  kindred  minds  gripped  that  great 
fact  that  made  them  one — even  as  there  his 
mother  gave  him  to  see  the  light  flooding  the 
plains  so  at  that  very  spot  his  first  sight  of  the 
maiden  caused  him  to  see  the  light  of  love 
flooding  the  soul.  Here  it  is  all  intensified 
at  white  heat — at  the  supreme  moment  she 
spoke  even  as  he  had  never  heard  her  speak 
before,  not  excepting  the  day  she  first  awaked 
him  to  love  and  affection.  Supreme  in  affec¬ 
tion  she  overwhelmed  his  soul: 

“Set  me  as  a  seal  upon  thy  heart,  as  a  seal  upon 
thine  arm 

For  love  is  strong  as  death; 

Jealousy  is  cruel  as  the  grave: 

The  flashes  thereof  are  flashes  of  fire, 

A  very  flame  of  Jehovah. 

Many  waters  can  not  quench  love, 

Neither  can  floods  drown  it: 

If  a  man  would  give  all  the  substance  of  his 
house  for  love, 

He  would  utterly  be  contemned.” 


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